GC: Jennings Takes Heat Over Ban on Smoking
By BOB DARDEN
Staff Writer
Within days of the Greenwood City Council passing its landmark smoking ban, the ban's chief proponent, Ward 1's Johnny Jennings, is the subject of an anonymous poster campaign that depicts Jennings as Adolph Hitler.
The original photo of Hitler has been Photoshopped to include Jennings' face, complete with a Hitler-like moustache, leading a group of Nazis officials, including Martin Bormann. The poster's caption reads, "with Liberty & Justice for Some."
Jennings says he tries to keep it all in perspective. "Hitler took lives. I'm trying to save them," he said.
Jennings said he first became aware of the poster campaign last week, after the City Council voted unanimously to adopt the smoking ban, which affects bars, restaurants and other public places.
Jennings said his daughters spotted one of the posters at Steven's Bar-B-Q within two days of the council's vote on the smoking ordinance. Although it made Jennings' daughters upset - he said they tore the 8½-by-11 inch poster down - Jennings said he's come to expect such criticism from certain people.
"Smokers can't stand on smoke. They've rallied the constitutional supporters about the intrusions into the inner workings of a restaurant," Jennings said.
He complimented the poster's designers on their skills with Photoshop computer software. "They did a great job," he said. "I could use somebody like that in my business."
Steven's owner, Steven Goodwin, a vocal critic of the new ordinance, said with a laugh he had no idea where the poster came from.
"I thought I could control things that went on in my restaurant," referring to the smoking ordinance's limitations on where smoking can occur and the requirements on proprietors of businesses enforcing the ordinance's provisions, he said.
Goodwin said another poster was back on display in his restaurant on Monday. He said he realizes the law is coming, so he's just having a little fun at Jennings' expense by allowing the poster to remain up. "It's my form of protest," he said.
Jennings said he isn't deterred by the poster art. He said a clear majority of people support the council's efforts to make the city healthier. He said the ordinance is simply an attempt to restore common courtesy in restaurants and other public places.
"Ninety-five percent of the feedback I've gotten has been in support of the ordinance," Jennings said. Jennings also said residents need to remember that the entire council backed the smoking ban, not just him.
The poster and its message doesn't faze him. "Everybody's got a voice. It's important to remember that," he said.
Editor's note: View the original Commonwealth article and comments here.
Staff Writer
Within days of the Greenwood City Council passing its landmark smoking ban, the ban's chief proponent, Ward 1's Johnny Jennings, is the subject of an anonymous poster campaign that depicts Jennings as Adolph Hitler.
The original photo of Hitler has been Photoshopped to include Jennings' face, complete with a Hitler-like moustache, leading a group of Nazis officials, including Martin Bormann. The poster's caption reads, "with Liberty & Justice for Some."
Jennings says he tries to keep it all in perspective. "Hitler took lives. I'm trying to save them," he said.
Jennings said he first became aware of the poster campaign last week, after the City Council voted unanimously to adopt the smoking ban, which affects bars, restaurants and other public places.
Jennings said his daughters spotted one of the posters at Steven's Bar-B-Q within two days of the council's vote on the smoking ordinance. Although it made Jennings' daughters upset - he said they tore the 8½-by-11 inch poster down - Jennings said he's come to expect such criticism from certain people.
"Smokers can't stand on smoke. They've rallied the constitutional supporters about the intrusions into the inner workings of a restaurant," Jennings said.
He complimented the poster's designers on their skills with Photoshop computer software. "They did a great job," he said. "I could use somebody like that in my business."
Steven's owner, Steven Goodwin, a vocal critic of the new ordinance, said with a laugh he had no idea where the poster came from.
"I thought I could control things that went on in my restaurant," referring to the smoking ordinance's limitations on where smoking can occur and the requirements on proprietors of businesses enforcing the ordinance's provisions, he said.
Goodwin said another poster was back on display in his restaurant on Monday. He said he realizes the law is coming, so he's just having a little fun at Jennings' expense by allowing the poster to remain up. "It's my form of protest," he said.
Jennings said he isn't deterred by the poster art. He said a clear majority of people support the council's efforts to make the city healthier. He said the ordinance is simply an attempt to restore common courtesy in restaurants and other public places.
"Ninety-five percent of the feedback I've gotten has been in support of the ordinance," Jennings said. Jennings also said residents need to remember that the entire council backed the smoking ban, not just him.
The poster and its message doesn't faze him. "Everybody's got a voice. It's important to remember that," he said.
Editor's note: View the original Commonwealth article and comments here.
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