Read the Post-Dispatch's story about the committee meeting today.

Today, the Health Committee (made up of Ald. Greg Carter, Ald. Charles Quincy Troupe, Ald. Terry Kennedy, Ald. Steven Conway, Ald. Jeffery Boyd, Ald. Craig Schmid, Ald. Joe Vollmer, Ald. Kacie Starr Triplett, and Ald. Donna Baringer) was supposed to vote on the smoke-free initiative. In a surprise move by Ald. Troupe, the meeting was unceremoniously adjourned until next week, when the Health Committee gets financial statements from the Ways and Means Committee. Committee Chair Ald. Carter also said part of the reason for the meeting ending early was to give north side aldermen a chance to talk to their constituent bar owners. Apparently, they haven't had time to get around to it at any point in the last five months.

Over the summer, the Health Committee listened to more than nine hours of testimony, and we have it on good authority that their inboxes have been swamped with emails for or against the smoke-free measure introduced by Ald. Lyda Krewson. This bill was introduced in May. It's now, for all intents and purposes, October. And in a few short weeks, it will be November. The County vote is on November 3rd. We wouldn't be surprised if they keep stalling until they know how the County votes are tallied.

Whatever happened to doing the right thing, taking up the mantle, going out on a limb, getting your hands dirty, etc., etc.? There are so many applicable clichés here!

So here we are again. The time has come, the Walrus said! We're asking again that you contact the Health Committee. It's time for action. E-mail the Health Committee and tell them you won't wait any longer. They're seeking out bar owners to ask their opinion, but are they seeking out your opinion? We all pay taxes, so what's with the preferential treatment? C'mon folks. Please take a few minutes to do your civic duty, just copy and paste the email addresses below:

carterg@stlouiscity.com, troupec@stlouiscity.com, triplettk@stlouiscity.com, boydj@stlouiscity.com, baringerd@stlouiscity.com, conways@stlouiscity.com, vollmerj@stlouiscity.com, schmidc@stlouiscity.com, kennedyt@stlouiscity.com