Things The Government Doesn't Want You To Know About

You may not know this, but New York City has brought back curbside recycling for plastic, and glass will be back in April of next year. Haven't seen anything about this on the news? No posters in your building's vestibule? Of course not! The city says it can't afford a similar publicity campaign to the one they used to stop plastic and glass recycling, just one short year ago. Oh, really? It wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that Mayor Bloomberg is embarrassed that the action he pushed for, under the auspices of saving the city money and finding better ways to recycle, has been recinded? Sure, they say it's due to a "better recycling program," but if the mayor had really created such a program, why is there no fanfare? He desperately needs some good press, and this would be it. What's the deal?

Speaking of our less than illustrous billionaire mayor, one of his least popular policies will be challenged on Thursday, July 24. There will be a rally in front of City Hall at 1 pm to protest the smoking ban. Now that it has been in effect for a few months, the city has seen its ill effects, and I predict there will be a bigger turnout than at previous protests. Bar owners who did not speak out before are becoming increasingly concerned with this bogus law. Even non-smoking patrons have seen the negative effects of this radical "solution" to secondhand smoke. Residents have been subjected to crowds of smokers on the sidewalk, and they can't be happy. What are the problems? First, the aforementioned crowds on the sidewalk. Some bars try to keep them under control, put out ashtrays and have bouncers shush the patrons, but that's not only annoying, it's not widespread. Second, when someone wants to go out for a smoke, but they still have a drink, there are a few things that can happen. You leave your drink on the bar and the bartender watches it or puts a napkin over it, you either lose your seat or piss off incoming patrons who stare at your empty stoll for ten minutes, wondering if you'll ever come back, and finally, take that chance that someone might slip something in your drink. This is no good. Not to mention, bars are having problems with people falsely claiming that their drinks were bussed while they were smoking, scamming free drinks; underage kids are sneaking in with the smokers, and people are just skipping out on their tabs with the old, "just going outside for a puff" line.

I've said it once, and I'll say it again: "No more fucking ABBA." Oh, wait, I mean: tax breaks for bars that voluntarily go non-smoking, and for bars that install better ventilation systems. This way, there's a choice for bartenders, making the workplace non-discriminatory. Ta-da! Alexia for mayor!

By the way, since the smoking ban, I smoke just as much and have less fun. Woo-hoo, way to go, Mike.