The injunction filed against the smoking ban ordinance is capricious, premature and possibly downright frivolous.

It is capricious because there is no cogent reason for filing a suit against the ordinance. Since its inception, it has been working beautifully at ensuring public health. There has been only one complaint filed with police concerning noncompliance.

It is premature because the ordinance has been in place no longer than eight weeks, yet two of the businesses filing the lawsuit protest that they have lost thousands of dollars because of the ordinance.

These are unverified figures and none of the other six plaintiffs have submitted similar figures. I have no doubt that, taken as a whole over time, restaurants won’t lose business as a result of the ordinance. This has been the case as shown by 30 economic research studies in other cities with smoking bans. The hospitality industry is thriving in over 800 cities with smoking bans.

It is frivolous because it is not sensible. I contend that although the injunction filed has little chance of succeeding in its intent to destroy the ordinance, it comes on the heels of an avowal to make the attempt by a minority of dissenters. In my opinion they want simply to have their own way and are being contentious despite all of the odds. Otherwise, why are two of the dissenters suing when they were specifically exempted within the body of the ordinance?

The ban became effective on Aug. 1, during the time when annually, all Ames business activity plunges dramatically. Approximately one half of the population absents itself from the community when university students leave.

These people began returning to the community no more than two weeks before our country was devastated by an atrocity that shook everyone to the core. Not only did the stock market plunge to historic lows, but also the mood of our citizenry was not one that stimulated interest in festive dining.

Of course there was a disinterest in dining out. Other businesses took it on the chin as well. Business, in general, began a steep slide all over America.

To blame that slide on the smoking ban is the height of irresponsibility. Blame bin Laden if you like, but don’t blame the ordinance, the Ames City Council, the Ames Tobacco Task Force, the entire body of health professionals in Ames or the people who don’t feel like eating out for a time following the tragedy.

Lenwood Monte

Resident

Ames