Pasadena Tobacconist Considers Lawsuit Regarding Amendment to City's Smoking Ban

PASADENA, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 04/05/08 -- Anto Kamarian has owned Cigars by Chivas in Old Pasadena since 1995 when he gave up his lucrative practice in order to devote all of his time to his true passion -- premium cigars. Even when the city of Pasadena passed its smoking ban in 2002, Kamarian was willing to cooperate. Now, he believes the city council is going too far.

"Enough is enough," said Kamarian when he was told that, on Monday, April 7, the Pasadena city council was expected to begin discussing and possibly vote on an amendment to the city code that would prohibit smoking in a wide range of additional locations including within 20 feet of a business entrance or exit.

"That's going to kill business for restaurants that have outdoor eating areas for smokers," says Kamarian. "People from cities like Beverly Hills, Burbank, Calabasas and elsewhere come to our city's restaurants so they can enjoy a fine cigar, pipe or cigarette after their meals in the outdoor areas that many of them provide."

Kamarian plans to testify at Monday's council meeting and, if necessary, take legal action to block the amendment or at least slow down its hasty path to passage.

"If the amendment is based on alleged health issues, what adequate evidence exists regarding the effects of smoking in outdoor areas? Even the Surgeon General's report says there is no conclusive evidence that says second hand smoke is bad for you," he said.

"Have they done an economic impact study to determine what effect this amendment will have on the businesses in Pasadena? Tourists and others from surrounding communities currently flock to Pasadena because we offer smoking options that they are not able to enjoy elsewhere. Take that away, and businesses will suffer, including mine," he said.

"Then, most importantly, there is the issue of civil liberties and our constitutional right to sell and use legal products in private and public places, especially at our respective businesses. Business owners should be free to choose whether or not to ban smoking on their premises and it should be up to employees and customers to decide whether or not to work there or patronize them. If public health issues were involved, you can bet that federal regulatory agencies like OSHA would be involved, but they are not. Why? Because the so-called data is flat-out bogus," Kamarian said.

Immigrating to the United States from Beirut, Lebanon in 1975, Kamarian attended Boston University where he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and then came to California and attended the University of West Los Angeles where he got his law degree.

"I love this country because of its freedoms. None of us -- whether we are smokers or non-smokers -- have the right to abuse the freedoms of others. That is what I will tell the city council on Monday," said Kamarian.

Contact: Tony Tortorici 678/493-0313 tony@tortoricipr.com www.ipcpr.org

2008-04-05 18:29:06 0328739 MARKETWIRE