Fighting the Good Fight in Minneapolis

[Ketchtwenty2]

Minneapolis (like many other cities) is trying to take away our places that allow us to enjoy our cigars. Here is another report from the front lines.

Linky

 

[mmburtch]

I'd read your link Ketch, but as always I seem to be stuck on your avatar.

 

[vortex]

We have outlawed smoking in all shops but it gets ignored in the humidors. But that means the humidor takes a hit every show with too much traffic allowing the RH to tumble almost every weekend. The quality of the smokes has gone down and I can't help but wonder if the shows in the humi are partly responsible.

 

[LilBastage]

We have outlawed smoking in all shops but it gets ignored in the humidors. But that means the humidor takes a hit every show with too much traffic allowing the RH to tumble almost every weekend. The quality of the smokes has gone down and I can't help but wonder if the shows in the humi are partly responsible.

I would never buy a cigar from a shop that allowed smoking in the humidor.


Good luck, Ketch. It's a hard row to hoe. Or a hard ho to row. Or something...

 

[vortex]

We have outlawed smoking in all shops but it gets ignored in the humidors. But that means the humidor takes a hit every show with too much traffic allowing the RH to tumble almost every weekend. The quality of the smokes has gone down and I can't help but wonder if the shows in the humi are partly responsible.

I would never buy a cigar from a shop that allowed smoking in the humidor.

I stopped buying cigars at my local B&Ms due to QC problems. For a while I tried buying from boxes that were recently opened but it didn't make much difference.

We do have a few cigar friendly restaurants that allow smoking on the balcony/deck. But that only works during the warm months. I remember the last herf at the Howard House before Maryland followed suit. It was bittersweet.

 

[Bitaemo]

Man thats tough news. You guys definitely have a nice little place to sit and smoke right now, I hope you dont loose that.

Ive had to resort to a man cave myself in the garage this winter because the only place in town is making it harder to be able to smoke there.

 

[Pugman1943]

The next thing we will see is all food must be consumed indoors to help reduce takeout litter.

 

[Mr Peat]

We still have places that allow you to smoke in restaurants down here. I've been tempted to see how they react to cigars. I mean if 20 chain smokers sit in the smoking section, so can I. :laugh:

 

[broblues]

Here in Indiana, city and county smoking laws are different, but thank-you to our ever so considerate lawmakers, who are trying to make it a statewide ban............they will soon be the same. Mancaves for everyone!!!!! :angry:

 

[ALostTexan]

Ketch, FWIW I submitted my own public comment to the Regulatory, Energy, and Environment Committee to speak out again this change in city code. I explained that I have already changed where I travel for leisure and business as different cities and states have changed their smoking laws, and that Minneapolis would be another if the code is tightened there.

This is what cigar smokers have to do. Signing a CRA petition is a great idea, but using the public comment period of cities and states to speak out for or against a change in laws is even better.

Good luck with the fight up there.

 

[tsmckenney]

I wrote to Elizabeth today:

Ms. Glidden,

"How much of a cigar should a connoisseur be able to test in a tobacco shop?"
That quote is from the Star Tribune.

It's a ridiculous question. Cigar shops are nobody's problem. Hospitals are
not littered with cigar smokers. The vast majority of cigar smokers average 3
cigars a week. Yet, there are some folks who will not rest until this
'evil' is put out for good. And it never will be. It's not meth. It's not
crack. Hell, it's not even alcohol. Those are all things that can ruin lives.
Ruin relationships. Ruin children. I'm 37, I've seen a lot and I've heard a
lot. To date, I've yet to hear anyone tell the story of how smoking cigars
ruined their life.

It makes me think of prohibition. That worked well, didn't it?

I believe you are abusing your ethical responsibilities to your constituents.
Listed below are the issues you have posted on your website. Shouldn't
'shutting down cigar shops' be here somewhere?

Safe and Livable Neighborhoods
We all do better when every neighborhood is safe, strong, vital, and engaged. I
will work with neighbors to address livability crimes like graffiti and
prostitution and ensure all neighborhoods have the tools to build community and
reduce crime.
Restore Housing and Prevent Foreclosures
For many of us, our greatest resource is our home – whether we rent or own.
Neighbors know that keeping people in their homes stabilizes neighborhoods and
reduces crime and blight associated with vacant houses. I will continue work to
revitalize vacant homes and commercial properties and, most importantly, I will
continue to seek and apply creative solutions to prevent foreclosures.
Economic Opportunity Agenda
Good jobs and vibrant business corners are critical to strong and safe
neighborhoods. I will continue my work to revitalize our connecting corridors of
38th Street and Chicago Avenue, support small businesses, and combat poverty
with job opportunities and skills training.
Investing in Youth Success
Helping children succeed and supporting strong schools is a community-wide
responsibility. I will work to drive public investment in the right places, not
the same places, by introducing a Children’s Report Card to hold government
accountable, expanding activities for children outside of the classroom, and
strengthening the Youth Congress, a group of 55 young people creating and
influencing policy.
Sustainability and Green City Leadership
Protecting our environment and continuing Minneapolis’ national leadership in
sustainability practices is critical to our future. I will promote improved
networks for biking, walking, and transit, fight to ensure a transit station at
Lake and I-35W is a top regional priority, and support locally grown food
options for our neighborhoods.

You work for the residents of the 8th Ward. Central Neighborhood included...
Prostitution, gangs, drugs, foreclosures, squatting, unemployment, new immigrant
Americans.... BTW, did you happen to make it to Cedar Riverside for the Somali
American open house? I did, didn't see you there. How Somali Americans
progress in this country is of the absolute utmost importance. There are civil
rights issues. There are basic basic human issues. Those of us who want to see
this community raise healthy and happy families have got to find ways to support
them. There are many people who don't want to see them do well. This brings
about another issue. That of security.

Elizabeth, this is something IMPORTANT. You are doing the community a
disservice by spending your time trying to fight 'tobacco'. Thank God some of
our other liberal minded representatives agree. You're in the wrong. So
please, find a way to get above your ego and your personal agendas, and do
what's right.


Thank you,

Todd McKenney
Resident of New Hope, MN

 

[Shamrocker]

Man thats tough news. You guys definitely have a nice little place to sit and smoke right now, I hope you dont loose that.

Ive had to resort to a man cave myself in the garage this winter because the only place in town is making it harder to be able to smoke there.

The only difference is our B&M has voluntarily gone the route it has, not forced to by legislation. It's nice they still allow it, but it's no surprise they tightened the rules. The know for the most part, people will still come to buy cigars there since they have the largest selection in the province.