Danny, a bartender at Pizzeria Uno in Bayside, which would be affected by the law change, said the new Smoke Free Act will hit him square in the wallet. "It could definitely take away some of my business," he said. "People come to the bar from the restaurant area just to smoke."
Danny, who is not a smoker, said that although he finds cigarette smoke bothersome, dealing with it is simply "part of my job."
The manager of another local restaurant said the hospitality business in Queens could be seriously damaged if the law is passed. "This is going to really hurt bars all across the city," said the manager who wished to remain anonymous. "Some people might be even put out of business."
At Cronin & Phelans in Astoria, Tony Didinato, a regular at the bar, said "My clothes smell of smoke when I leave the bar, so it might be a good idea."
However, Cronin bartender Craig Newman called the bill "dumb." He added, "Everyone is going to be outside because so many people smoke."
Despite the concerns of the bills opponents, Vallone said since smoking restrictions were enacted, customers are actually attending restaurants more frequently. "More people are visiting New York, eating out more often and paying higher checks than in the Citys history," said the Speaker. "Make no mistake: the Smoke-Free Air Act has made New York City an even better place to live."
Vallone said his bill will protect employees of businesses where smoking is permitted. "It is our duty to protect the health of the tens of thousands of employees of our restaurant industry," he said. Vallone added that restaurant employees have some of the highest rates of lung cancer and respiratory disease. The bill is expected to be the subject of at least one more public hearing before it is sent to the City Council for a vote in either May or June.
The controversial proposal has met opposition by Mayor Rudy Giuliani who said the bill "attempts to over-regulate the citys restaurants" and infringes on the "personal choice of owners and patrons."
Testifying before City Councils Health Committee, Dileep G. Bal, president of the American Cancer Society, applauded the bill as a step in the right direction for people who choose not to smoke. "There is no way to protect non-smokers from secondhand smoke except to remove it from public places," said Bal. "Our experience in California, where the restaurant and bar industry is smoke-free and economically viable, proves this point."
During his testimony, Bal said his studies assess that secondhand smoke is the third-leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., killing approximately 53,000 non-smokers each year.
Nonetheless, long-time smokers Joe Rizzo and James Macarella, patrons at Bourbon Street in Bayside, said if they are not allowed to puff at their favorite tavern, theyll go elsewhere.
"I can always find someplace that will allow smoking," said Rizzo.
Macarella added, "Smoking and drinking have always been linked together. If this bill goes through, Ill just go to Long Island and drink there."
