Shame on Brentwood's Mayor and Board of Aldermen

I have been thinking about my years in Brentwood, where I grew up on Cecelia Ave. at the corner of Florence Ave. We had a great time ice skating on the lake across the street, and when I was very young, riding a sled down Florence Ave. when it snowed. The street department would block it off and we would shoot down the hill. One of us would always be at the bottom of the hill to watch out for traffic. I was always proud of growing up in Brentwood and going to school at . I can remember selling the Sunday paper on Salem Ave.; the street on the other side of the lake.  On Saturday nights, I helped my brother, and we would walk with our little cart and holler, "Morning Post and Globe...paaaper" in our sing-song voice. Those were the days when we played hide 'n seek and could stay out till it got dark in the summer. I am still proud to have called Brentwood my childhood home and have many happy memories.

I have to say now that I am extremely disappointed in the Brentwood Board of Aldermen and the mayor. I wonder why they saw fit to change the law that we voted for in November. They added to include three places of businesses in Brentwood that were not covered by the law we voted for in November. Why do they want to make just three more places be included? That ban includes the . I am a member of the Auxiliary there.

Now don't get me wrong. I do not like smoking. I quit smoking in 2002. I am now paying for all the smoking I enjoyed because I have COPD. The symptoms got worse about three months after I quit. I enjoy the smoke-free atmosphere of the Post when I go there. However, I do not believe that I have any right to tell other people that they can't smoke, especially in a place where they gather for some good times, watch a football or baseball game, good conversation with friends and good drinks. I believe that if the law that we voted for in November is good enough for St. Louis City and St. Louis County, than it, FOR SURE, is good enough for Brentwood.

I was told once, when I was talking to someone about this issue, that some of the other cities in the county have put a ban in place also. Well my answer to that argument is what I used to tell my children, "Just because someone jumps off a bridge, are you supposed to jump off too?"

Shame on you, Mr. Mayor and the members of the Board that voted against excluding the Post. Just as I have no right to tell people what they should do, I don't feel you have any right to either. The law that was put in effect in January should be good enough for Brentwood, and should NOT have been changed.