Keep government out of our private business

To the editor:

My name is Mary Lou and my son Jack and I have owned the Palmer Bar for 27 years. We have worked hard to make it a clean, respectable and fun place to come. We serve the very best burgers and steaks in the Valley. We have never had a complaint about smoke as we have a fresh air exchanger, make-up air system and three smoke eaters.

This smoking ordinance is not just about smoking, is it? It is about a handful of people who never even step foot in this bar who decided we should be smoke free. Our rights as business owners as well as anyone should have the right to choose. Is that not what this is about, freedom of choice? Speaking of choice, the Caboose and the Eagle Bar chose to go smoke free. They had the right to make that choice. Why should their rights be any different or more important than ours?

Isn’t it bad enough that big government is taking away our rights? Should we actually let small government do the same? What will be next something you, the people of Palmer have worked for all your life? Think about this Palmer residents and please vote no on Prop 3.

Mary Lou Coddington and Jack Burnett

Palmer Bar