I just learned that the local health department has won the latest round in the on-going battle over smoking rights at Costello's Bar. This issue has gone on long enough. The law was designed to protect employees from second-hand smoke. This bar has no employees. It's owned and operated by a couple who don't mind smoking. Case closed. Local government is infringing upon the rights to operate a legitimate business. This is just a case of one business standing up for its rights (because we have a history of doing that in the USA) and the government trying to make an example out of them. “Big Brother” is over-stepping his boundaries.

If someone is that outraged by smoking or has allergies to smoke, don't go there! If I were offended by stripping, why would I go to a strip club? Hello!

Why is it that clubs with memberships like fraternal organizations can allow smoking? There is a bar there and you can smoke. Why? I wonder if it's because some lawmakers are members there? If the Clean Air Act says no smoking in places where people congregate, it would seem right that they be included.

It would seem that if our local government is that concerned over our well-being, why don't they worry about lack of employment or drug abuse? I grew up in this county and in the 1970s there were many factories and businesses to find work. Now there's almost nothing but minimum wage fast-food or grocery store jobs.

You can't drive through some of our streets and not see at least one drug deal or guy's “brown-bagging” some beer outside a convenience store. If you don't see this, you should wander off Genesee Street or the Arterial. Deal with these real social issues and leave honest hard-working people alone. This fight with Costello's is nothing but a smoke screen to take the focus off local government not dealing with the serious issues that plague our county.

Tim Griffin

Auburn