By David Fleet
Editor
It’s been almost 13 years since DJ Sirignano, owner of John’s Steak House of Goodrich, responded to a customer survey and banned smoking in his popular eatery.
‘According to a survey we took, 85 percent of our customers asked that we ban smoking in our restaurant,? said Siriganno. ‘At the time I thought it would hurt our business’it was not the case. Actually, it may have helped our business to some extent. If we had a separate space in the dining area I’d allow smoking in a section, but we don’t.?
Sirignano and his local eatery may be slightly ahead of the curve.
After a week of deliberations, the Michigan Senate on May 8 voted 25-12, passing comprehensive legislation banning smoking in nearly all workplaces, including restaurants, bars, non-Indian casinos and bingo halls. Sen. Deb Cherry (D-Burton) voted for the ban.
The Senate vote comes after a 56-46 vote on Dec. 5 where the state House of Representatives mustered up the support needed to ban smoking in Michigan bars, restaurants and many other workplaces. Many Democrats supported the bill as a public health issue, while the GOP said businesses should have the rights. Area lawmakers Rep. Jim Marleau (R-Lake Orion) and Rep. David Robertson (R-Grand Blanc) both voted against the ban. The House bill, however, died in committee.
As Lansing debates the non-smoking issue’area business owners have mixed opinions on the upcoming plan.
Mark Nikaj, owner of Tom’s Coney, 8157 S. State Road, Goodrich, has about 15 tables in his diner. Of those tables, four are non-smoking.
‘About the same customers come in to smoke and sit at those tables each day,? said Nikaj. ‘In four years, I’ve had about one complaint about no smoking in my restaurant. The ban on smoking I don’t think will make that much difference.?
Other area business owners are more concerned about the possible smoking ban.
Kim Hagar, owner of Bullfrogs, 2225 Ortonville Road, is opposed to the smoking ban.
‘It’s just bad for business to ban smoking,? said Hagar, who along with her husband Jim have owned Bullfrogs for the past nine years.
‘The economy is bad enough right now in Michigan. Right now we offer 20 percent of the tables for smokers and about 80 percent of the tables for non-smokers. During the past nine years, only one person ever complained about the smoke in our business.?
Hagar is also concerned that the possible smoking ban may impact their Keno business.
‘People sit at the bar and smoke and play Keno, it’s a big draw to our business. For that matter, we spend a lot of money on ‘smoke eaters? that clean the air in our restaurant.?
If the smoking ban is passed, they will consider opening the back deck on the Lake Louise waterfront for smoking.
David Glaza, 39, a Pontiac resident and a smoker for the past 25 years, stopped by Bullfrogs Restaurant on Tuesday afternoon to join some friends for a party.
‘Smoking at bars and restaurants is the last bastion you have,? said Glaza. ‘If they ban smoking in bars, I’ll stop going and drink at home. Let me choose to smoke, not our government. Why don’t they just make smoking illegal altogether??
More than 30 states have enacted some sort of ban on smoking in public or workplace areas, according to supporters of the Michigan campaign. Some of those bans don’t apply to restaurants and bars.
Fifteen states – Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Washington and Vermont – as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico prohibit smoking in almost all public places and workplaces, including restaurants and bars.
Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon and Utah have passed legislation prohibiting smoking in almost all public places and workplaces, including restaurants and bars, but the laws have not taken full effect yet.