Here is the question retiring city councilman Chuck Grayeb would like to have on the ballot in April:
Should the City of Peoria Join Other Smoke-Free Illinois Cities and Smoke-Free States (including California and New York), by Prohibiting Smoking in All Indoor Work Places and All Indoor Public Places?
Wouldn’t it be simpler just to say, “Should the City of Peoria prohibit smoking in all indoor work places and all indoor public places?” Does not the inclusion of “join other smoke-free Illinois cities and smoke-free states (including California and New York)” make this an argumentative and leading question?
I did some checking, and it looks like the Circuit Court of Cook County said in Leman v. County of Cook “that a municipality which initiates even an advisory referendum has the obligation to set forth the question in as neutral and non-argumentative a fashion as possible.”
Grayeb’s question does not do that; indeed, if you read Grayeb’s Request for Council Action, the adoption of smoke-free policies by other states and Illinois cities is a large part of his argument for making Peoria smoke-free. He can’t put his argument into the advisory referendum.
Of course, I think this is a waste of time anyway; but if they’re going to do it, they should at least do it right.
Seems to me the question also should include something about the process and cost of enforcement. Are we going to dispatch police officers to offending bars to force patrons to snuff out their cigarettes? They’ll probably be too busy layin down the law to book re-sellers who don’t get adequate I.D. from their customers
I’ll have to agree with you on this one, C.J. That’s not a neutral way to word the referendum. If Peoria is going to do this, it should be done because it’s the right thing to do. It shouldn’t be a follow-the-leader issue.
Maybe Chuck should outlaw spanking too while he is at it. California may be outlawing it too.
Ban transfats, foie gras, veal and a few other things, too, Chaz. Latest gossip? Truffles. Not the chocolates, the fungus. Why? Cruelty to animals that are trained to “sniff” them out. It’s comin’ down to having only brussel sprouts and corn on your plates, people.
I just had an idea! How about this as a replacement question:
“Should the City of Peoria Join Other Smoke-Free Countries (including Cuba and Uganda), by Prohibiting Smoking in All Indoor Work Places and All Indoor Public Places?”
Think that would tip the scales at all? 🙂
It should be neutrally worded. Arguements can be made in the run up to the election.
I noticed that the referendum and Councilman Grayeb made the USA today in the section outlining news around the country!
They did a little spot on Grayeb at the Jukebox Comedy Club last night in reference to the Anti-smoking ban. Other than pointing out Grayeb is gay, which is common knowledge in Peoria, they said the simplest way to end this crap is make it a law that each establishment hang a sign on their door, Smoke Free or Smoking Allowed. That simple. Allow the public to decide. I have to agree.
EM: Common knowledge but still an open secret. I’ve never heard/seen the media in any way mention him being gay or just a plain girly man.