Baytown Citizens for Property Rights

 

“ Private Property is the foundation of all civilized societies.”

                                      Thomas Jefferson

 

 

Mission Statement 

Baytown Citizens for Property Rights seek to bring greater attention to public policy decisions impacting private property rights and provide challenge thru legal process to those who would oppress our legal rights as citizens and property owners.

 

Brief History On Local Smoking Ordinance

 

In 1999 Baytown City Council voted to amend an existing smoking ordinance making it more stringent than an existing ordinance. This became effective in early 2000.The amendment affected almost every business in Baytown not just restaurants as most people were led to believe. Only bars and private clubs were exempted from that amendment. All other businesses were allowed only two choices, no smoking or smoking in designated areas. The designated areas were limited to 50% of seats for restaurants and 50% of square footage for all other businesses. Designated smoking areas for employees were also allowed but not to exceed 50% of square footage.

 

Current Concern On Smoking Ordinance

 

A local group known as the Smokefree Baytown Coalition is lobbying our current city council to amend our current smoking ordinance to include bars and private clubs and to ban smoking in all Baytown businesses. The ban would include previous designated smoking areas. Those businesses that spent the money to provide these areas will have wasted all of that money. The ban will have a major impact on the local economy and discourage new businesses from coming to Baytown. The ban will also disrupt the current lifestyle of many citizens.  

 

Future Concern On Smoking Ordinance

 

The Smokefree Baytown Coalition has expressed a desire to eliminate all second hand smoke in Baytown. And I must stress the use of the word all. Some of the same supporters of this group are currently working in California to include all residences not owned by the occupant. This would ban smoking for anyone living in an apartment or other rented housing units. People who rent are by no means second class citizens and have property rights also. They have even mentioned banning smoking in cars driving on the street.

   

Action We Are Taking

 

Baytown Citizens For Property Rights is drafting a petition to put on the ballot in the upcoming May election, an amendment to the smoking ordinance that would return to business owners some of the property rights taken from them in the 1999 amendment. This amendment would implement what was referred to in 1999 as plan B, which was voted down in 1999 by four councilmen. This amendment would offer three choices to business owners, all smoking, no smoking, or smoking in designated areas only. It would also eliminate the 50% max rule on seats or square footage. It would also eliminate a recent amendment requiring any business owner with a food permit to submit all of the business records to health department officials. It would retain all ventilation and separation requirements of the current ordinance for designated smoking areas. No part of the smoking ordinance has ever been voted on by the citizens of Baytown. It has always been dictated to and forced on the business community.

 

What We Need To Do To Achieve This

 

1.      Make people aware of what the Smokefree Baytown Coalition is trying to do.

2.      Make people aware of what will happen if we do not stop this infringement on property rights.

3.   Make people aware that the only way to stop this madness is at the ballot box.

4.   Make people aware that we can not even stop it at the ballot box if they do not go vote.

5.   Collect a legible list (with phone number and address) of those people who support our cause.

6.   Register people to vote.

7.   Help raise money to finance this fight.

8.   Put up signs and hang banners.

9.       Encourage people to vote.

10. Encourage people to vote early during early voting.

11. Remind people to vote.

12. Offer to give them a ride to vote.