Columbia's smoking ban is bad for the environment.

Lauren Schult points out:

Since Columbia’s smoking ordinance took effect in early January, more cigarette butts have been showing up on sidewalks and streets as smokers have been forced outside. The litter is not only unsightly — it’s a source of water pollution as the butts wash down storm drains that flow into streams.

...

The most environmentally hazardous part of a cigarette butt is the filter, which is made of condensed cellulose acetate, a mass of plastic fibers thinner than sewing threads that doesn’t decay easily.

Experiments with the crustacean Daphnia (often called a water flea) concluded that the toxic chemicals in cigarette filters dissolve in water and are lethal to the freshwater crustacean, which is a crucial link at the lower end of the aquatic food chain.

Where are all the Greenies with their protests on THIS one?

On a related note, 'burber and business owner Karon Rowe gets a boost from tobacco refugees and makes a business decision to stay outside the city limits.

The Democrat-Gazette version of "flyover people."

Apparently, if you don't live in Arkansas, your opinion doesn't matter.

...letters from out of state are not accepted,...

So, okay. I'll write my letter here instead. And while I'm at it, I just might think about removing the link to the Democrat-Gazette from my sidebar.

Thank you note.

I'd like to thank the legislators of Arkansas for their decision to remove the ability of restaurant owners to decide whether or not to allow smoking in their establishments.

Here in the little border town of Thayer, Missouri, where business owners still have the right to decide for themselves what happens on their property, it has led to a boom in the restaurant business. We're practically being swarmed with Arkansans who want to enjoy a good cigarette after their meals.

Thanks for sending all the tobacco refugees, and their money, our way! I'm sure our little city can find all sorts of ways to spend the tax revenue this generates, which used to go to Arkansas communities.

Keep up the good work!

John Hutchison,
Thayer MO.