GASP of Nebraska, Inc



[pic]GASPof Nebraska, Inc. (Group to Alleviate Smoking Pollution)

5611 Howard Street Omaha, NE 68106-1257 402/558-0463

Smoke Free Laws Are Good For Business And People

News Advisory –

Please Embargo Until the News Conference

Should the Douglas County Health Department Quickly Enforce the State Clean Indoor Air Law?

Contact: Mark Welsch, GASP President, 402-558-0463 Mark@ or

Mike Salkin, GASP Vice-President 402-330-4324

Omaha, NE, USA, Thursday, June 9, 2005 – on Friday, June 10 at 9:00AM, GASP president Mark Welsch will be next door in a parking lot, to the South and outside of Big John’s Billiards at 9819 “M” Street for a news conference. Click here for a map. (Bring your umbrella, it may be raining.)

We want to draw attention to the proposed resolution that GASP has asked the Douglas County Board of Health (DCBOH) to pass at next Wednesday’s meeting. The resolution is to instruct the Douglas County Health Department (DCHD) to quickly enforce the Nebraska Clean Indoor Air Act (NCIAA) by using the County Attorney and legal action when needed.

GASP has reported 86 businesses to the DCHD for violating the NCIAA. Until now, GASP has been very patient, attempting to work with the DCHD to get them to take court action to protect people’s health. The first 56 businesses were reported to the DCHD on August 29, 2003, over 21 months ago. Most of the reported businesses still do not comply with our state law. None have been taken into court by the DCHD to force them to comply with the law. At least one of the businesses (Big John’s Billiards) blatantly thumbs their nose at the DCHD and the NCIAA by posting a sign outside, at their entrance that says the entire restaurant is a smoking area. Cameras can easily take a picture of this sign from outside of Big John’s Billiards. A summary of the 86 businesses that GASP reported to the DCHD is:

1. Businesses That Have Closed Since Being Reported (3 – 4%)

2. Businesses That Comply With The State Law (6 – 7%)

3. Businesses That Almost Comply With The State Law (1 – 1%)

4. Businesses That Do Not Comply With Our State Law (76 – 88%)

Of the 76 businesses that do not comply:

52 were reported on August 29, 2003 – over 21 months ago

2 were reported on October 16, 2003 – over 19 months ago

1 was reported on January 7, 2004 – over 16 months ago

6 were reported in March 2004 – over 14 months ago

8 were reported in May 2004 – over 12 months ago

5 were reported in June 2004 – over 11 months ago

2 were reported in July 2004 – over 10 months ago

Because the Douglas County Health Department has not taken faster action through the courts, some businesses that should be 100% smoke free are smoky. Other businesses are much smokier than they should be. Many people have to walk through smoking areas to get to areas that should be nonsmoking areas. Last month Dr. Richard Sargent from Helena Montana told tobacco control people in Omaha that breathing secondhand smoke doubles the chance that a person (smokers and nonsmokers) will have a heart attack. The lack of quick enforcement action by the Health Department is causing people in Douglas County to become sick and possible die because of unnecessary exposure to secondhand smoke.

The 86 businesses GASP has reported to the DCHD, and their last known status are:

Date

Reported City Business Name Address Compliance Status

Businesses That Have Closed Since Being Reported (3)

8/29/2003 Omaha Bear Trap 1901 Harney Comply: Closed

8/29/2003 Omaha Dundee Dinner Theatre 5021 Underwood Ave. Comply: Closed

3/17/2004 Omaha Dragon Chen 8412 Park Dr Comply: Closed

Businesses That Comply With The State Law (6)

8/29/2003 Omaha Chili Greens Golf at Aksarben 6808 Spring Comply: Smoke Free

8/29/2003 Omaha Club Patrick 114th & Dodge Comply: Yes (Smoky Bar)

8/29/2003 Omaha Harold's Koffee House 8327 N 30 Comply: Smoke Free

8/29/2003 Omaha Runza 13435 Q Comply: Smoke Free

3/17/2004 Omaha Convenient Food Mart 123 N 114th Comply: Smoke Free

6/10/2004 Omaha Molly's Pub 8525 Park Drive Comply: Yes (Smoky Bar)

Businesses That Almost Comply With The State Law (1)

8/29/2003 Omaha Vincenzo's 7605 Pacific Comply: Almost

Businesses That Do Not Comply With Our State Law (76 – 88%)

8/29/2003 Bennington Keno Cabana 15409 S Second St Comply: No

8/29/2003 Elkhorn Gateway Lanes - 2 Restaurants 204 & Maple Comply: No

8/29/2003 Elkhorn Jack's Place 1818 Binfield St Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha American Legion Post 4618 S 139th Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha American Legion Post 4830 S 21st Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha Barrett's Barleycorn 4322 Leavenworth Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha Big John's Billiards Inc 9819 M Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha Billy Frogg's Grill and Bar 1120 Howard Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha Billy Frogg's Grill and Bar 8724 Dodge Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha Cappy's 5059 S 108th Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha Champps Americana 144th & Center Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha Clancy's Pub 7120 Pacific Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha Clancy's Pub 777 N 114th Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha Disabled American Vets 4515 F Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha Divots Bar & Grill 711 N 114th Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha DJ's Dugout West 636 N 114th Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha Donohue's Sports Pub & Grill 3232 L Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha Family Fun Center 7052 Dodge Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha Finnegan's 4309 S 120th Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha Frank's Treehouse 6500 Railroad Ave Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha Howard Street Pub & Pizza 1113 Howard Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha Ice House 10920 Emmet Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha Jim's Florence Bar & Grill 8424 N 30th St. Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha JJ's Bar & Grill 3201 S 24th Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha Joe Bananas 1022 S 10th Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha Kobe Steakhouse Of Japan 120 Regency P #139 Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha Lunkers Bar & Grill (Lighthouse 11-04) 15676 W. Maple Rd. Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha McCorricks Volleyball (The Digz) 4428 S 140th Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha McFly's Center St Tavern 4503 Center St Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha Mt Fuji Inn 7215 Blondo Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha P. J.'s 7402 F Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha Pat & Mike's 9136 Bedford Ave Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha Peony Park Bar & Grill 8100 Cass Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha Radial Cafe 817 N 40th St Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha Ranch Bowl 1606 S 72nd Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha Redeye Tavern 8437 W Center Rd Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha Roosters Pub & Eatery 2076 N 117th Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha Rusty Nail Inn 14210 Pierce Plz Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha Straight Shooters 7812 F St. Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha Stu's Place 9101 Bedford Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha Surfside Club RR 5 Florence Sta Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha Tangier Temple Tangier Way At 84th St. Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha Tiger Tom's Pub 4424 N 72nd St. Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha Triangle Bar & Grill 6803-1 Railroad Av Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha Trovato's 5013 Underwood Ave Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha VFW Post 8904 Military Ave Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha VFW Post 8334 136 & Q Comply: No

8/29/2003 Omaha Wayside Tavern 8503 Maple St. Comply: No

8/29/2003 Ralston Scorz Sports Center 7602 Main Comply: No

8/29/2003 Valley Country Tavern 24535 Kinglake Rd Comply: No

8/29/2003 Valley Fumblerooskies 318 N Spruce St. Comply: No

8/29/2003 Waterloo Depot (The) Lounge & Eatery 310 Third St. Comply: No

10/16/2003 Omaha Cubby's Mormon Bridge 9220 Mormon Bridge Rd Comply: No

10/16/2003 Omaha Petro Mart 6508 Pershing Dr Comply: No

1/7/2004 Omaha Shark Club, The 2808 S 72nd Comply: No

3/17/2004 Elkhorn Daylight Donuts 107 Hillrise Comply: No

3/17/2004 Omaha Convenient Food Mart 2014 L St Comply: No

3/17/2004 Omaha EZ's Place 15761 W Dodge Rd Comply: No

3/17/2004 Omaha Pheasant Tavern & Cigar Store 13909 S Plaza Comply: No

3/17/2004 Waterloo Betty B's Conv. Store 309 - 3rd Comply: No

3/23/2004 Omaha M's Pub 422 S 11th Comply: No

5/19/2004 Omaha Chili's 7400 Dodge, Crossroads Comply: No

5/19/2004 Omaha Dale’s Towing & Repair - Total 32 Ave and Arbor Comply: No

5/19/2004 Omaha Fox Valley (Apartments) 3930 North 104 Plaza Comply: No

5/19/2004 Omaha Holy Name Church Cafeteria 3014 N 45th St Comply: No

5/19/2004 Omaha Our Lady of Lourdes School 2124 S 32 Ave. Comply: No

5/19/2004 Omaha Outback Steakhouse 7605 Cass Comply: No

5/19/2004 Omaha South Omaha Sokol 2021 U St. Comply: No

5/19/2004 Omaha Tel Jed Sokol Of Omaha 2234 S 13th St. Comply: No

6/10/2004 Omaha Clancey's 2905 S 168th St Comply: No

6/10/2004 Omaha Famous Dave's BBQ 1101 Harney St Comply: No

6/10/2004 Valley Charlie T's 28564 Reichmuth Rd Comply: No

6/13/2004 Omaha Crossroads Shopping Mall 7400 Dodge, Crossroads Comply: No

6/13/2004 Omaha Omni Insurance 2001 N 72nd Street Comply: No

7/22/2004 Omaha Croft Rental Service 951 S. Saddle Creek Rd. Comply: No

7/24/2004 Omaha Brewsky's Food & Spirits 15350 Weir St Comply: No

Other people you may want to contact:

Adi Pour, Director

Douglas County Health Department

1819 Farnam, Room 401

Omaha, NE 68183

apour@co.douglas.ne.us

402-444-7864

Fax: 402.444.6267

The Douglas County Board of Health members are:

Freddie Gray, Chairperson freddiejgray@ 402-344-7877

Lawrence Albert snglsource@

David Catalan dcatalan@mail.unomaha.edu

Betty Foster, Ph.D. bfoster271@

Michael McDermott D.D.S. midwestoms_drmcdermott@

Frank Peak fpeak@creighton.edu

Dr. John Sage No E-mail

Marty (Marlene) Wilken MWilken@creighton.edu

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