T-Minus 1 Day ‘Til Street Doesn’t Sign Smoking Ban

Oh, yes, folks. It is only one day until John Street does not sign the smoking ban, and things are starting to heat up in City Council as well. Michael Currie Schaffer’s story in today’s Inquirer is a great, depressing look at how politics works in this country.

Michael Nutter even comes out to ask the simple question of why does his resignation from council mean the bill should be vetoed? Councilman Darrell Clarke says, well, he wouldn’t have voted for it if he knew Nutter was going to resign to run for mayor. He doesn’t say why, of course, but take a few guesses.

Street is still against smoking in outdoor cafes, probably the only sensible exemption to a smoking ban if one should be passed. And he says he still hasn’t decided if he’s going to veto the bill, but he does say there will be a ban by the end of his administration.

Councilman Brian O’Neill, who voted against the bill, essentially declares himself sick of it all and says he hopes the mayor signs the bill:

“If he vetoes it, no matter how they try to spin it, he’s sticking it to Nutter,” Councilman Brian J. O’Neill said.

Many members - including some who voted against Nutter’s bill last spring - hoped it wouldn’t come to that. “I hope he signs it,” said O’Neill, who voted against Nutter’s bill because of the exemptions, which he said unfairly helped some businesses.

“I didn’t like the deal that was being made. But I think it’ll be difficult to put nine votes together again… . You’re at the one-yard line here.”

Indeed! There’s, really, only one way to save the smoking ban now: Right before Street goes to veto the bill (and do a celebratory crotch-chop) afterward, Michael Nutter’s music plays. The mayor hopeful dashes in, hits Street in the head with a steel chair and signs the bill himself.

Yeah, that’d do.

Smoking ban rears its head again [Inquirer]
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