Topeka.org: Council to Hear Smoking Ban Testimony

The second of two public hearings regarding a proposed smoking ban ordinance will be at the same location as the first.

The Topeka City Council will again hear public opinion about the proposed Clean Indoor Air in Public Places and Places of Employment Ordinance beginning at 5:30 p.m. Monday, September 28, at the City’s Holliday Building, 620 SE Madison. The first public hearing was Monday, September 21, where 29 speakers addressed the Council.

Each speaker will be given up to 4 minutes to talk unless a majority of the Council – five council members – grants an extension. Those wishing to speak can sign up in advance by calling the City Clerk at 368-3940, stopping by the City Clerk’s office at City Hall, 215 SE 7th, or by calling the City Council office at 368-3710. Those wanting to speak can also sign up at the door the night of the meeting.

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Guest Blog: Oppressive Government at its Finest

I want to preface this blog by saying that I am not and never have been a smoker. In fact, one of my children has chronic lung disease and second hand smoke can kill him. With that being said, I still believe that a smoking ban in Topeka is wrong. I will not debate the health issues that go along with smoking and second hand smoke. Smoking kills people and wastes millions of dollars in health care costs related to smoking and second hand smoke. What I will debate is the interference and oppressive behavior of our government on every level. Read the rest of this entry »

Guest Blog: Clean Air, the only standard that is acceptable

I support this ordinance because it aims to protect the workers who are exposed to unsafe levels of second hand smoke for extended periods.  I know some may say that they choose to work in these environments. But, as a true capitalist I will contend that the most productive worker should be in the job that best suits their abilities and if we alienate the portion of the labor pool that cares about their health, then we introduce inefficiencies to a free market economy and the city is not developing an environment that is conducive to maximizing efficiency and fostering growth. Read the rest of this entry »

Topeka Transit: What is the long term solution?

As I am sure many of you have seen in the news recently, Topeka Metropolitan Transit Authority Board is both asking the city for a mill levy increase, as well as cutting Sunday & evening service (http://cjonline.com/news/local/2009-06-16/cuts_in_transit_service_nearing).  I am happy to see the City Council limited the mill levy increase to only one year, but I do not see the TMTA board coming up with long term solutions, so they are not back next year looking for more money again.  A city the size of Topeka should have a public transportation system, but it should also not cosume huge amounts of tax dollars.  At this point to come to a long term solution, it seems the entire operations of the TMTA need to be reviewed.  Read the rest of this entry »

City Manager for the Day

In April, my family (Aaron, Travis, Denise, Ryan, and Gwen) and I attended an event to raise money for The Capper Foundation called An Evening As A Child.  This event, at the Expocentre, was a fun event filled with food, games, wine, live auctions, and silent auctions.  It was at this fundraiser, that the events of June 12, 2009 were set in motion.

I was walking through the silent auction, wanting to see what auction items were available, when I saw it… It was the chance to bid on an item called, Spend a Day with the City Manager.  How awesome was this for an auditor and TransformTopeka board member, like myself?  I wrote in a bid with less than 5 minutes left in the auction.  A nominal donation to The Capper Foundation, and it was done.  Little did Norton Bonaparte know what he was getting himself into by placing this item on the auction block… Read the rest of this entry »

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