Minneapolis City Council members plan to introduce a proposal Friday to ban smoking in all bars and restaurants in the city. Council Member Gary Schiff said Sunday that the proposal already has six sponsors, meaning only one more vote is needed to reach the seven required for passage. At least one other council member is leaning in that direction.
This is the sort of hunger for attention to which I referred in today’s column. I can guarantee that Minneapolis and St. Paul would NEVER be going for something abjectly stupid like this if it hadn’t already been done in New York. The Council members are probably arguing that if the Twin Cities have a smoking ban, it will make them a major first-tier city, just like New York.
Nothing annoys a big fish in a small pond like being reminded that he swims in a small pond.