BREAKING NEWS

THE FREEDOM? TO VAPE!

477. Welcome to Blog 55. Today was supposed to be Part 2 of “Manifesto of a Madman” but because of the breaking news in the last couple of days I felt compelled to bring you my take on the situation about Vaping in Superior. 

478. First off I don’t and never have vaped. At my age I have enough “habits” and I’m not sure I need to add any new ones at this time. Having said that as long as vaping is legal, and it is, I don’t feel it’s my place or anybody else’s for that matter to dictate where they are sold. But there is one man that doesn't feel that way. Yep, that man is none other than “Sour Note” Jim Paine.

481. And then this morning June 21, 2024 there is this article in today’s Telegram.

Superior Council to consider restrictions on smoke shops

SUPERIOR — Changes could be coming to Superior’s zoning ordinance to stop the proliferation of businesses focused on the sale of cigarettes, tobacco and electronic vaping devices. The Plan Commission on Wednesday, June 19, recommended adopting new restrictions for businesses that dedicate 10% or more of their floor space to the trade of cigarettes, tobacco products, e-cigarette products, personal vaporizers, electronic nicotine delivery systems or any device used to ingest tobacco.

The new restrictions include:

• Allowing one business per 25,000 residents as reported by the most recent decennial census.
• The business must be located in a commercial, highway commercial or shopping center commercial district.
• The business could not be located within 300 feet of any one-family, two-family or apartment residential district or within 1,000 feet of any school, library, childcare center, park or playground.
• The business must be licensed by the city.
• Only one on-premise or building sign would be permitted; window displays, or signs with flashing lights, moving elements or message changing signs would not be allowed. A one-foot sign may be placed on the door to state the hours of operation and admittance to adults only would be allowed.

“We’re not going to effect any business that exists today; however we’re going to hopefully by attrition get down to the one that would be allowed in the city of Superior,” said Jason Serck, economic development, port and planning director.

“I struggle getting excited about this because it doesn’t solve anything for the immediate problem, because the existing shops are grandfathered in,” Councilor Brent Fennessey said. “It’s not like the T-21, where tomorrow, if we pass it, no one can sell to anyone under 21.”

Mayor Jim Paine disagreed.

“It does solve a problem,” Paine said. “We do expect more of these businesses to open … this would keep them from opening.”

The ordinance change is part of a three-part plan to address vaping that occurs in Superior schools.

“Vaping is getting out of hand, and most of it that we’re seeing is tobacco,” said Councilor Mark Johnson, who teaches at Superior High School.

In addition to the proposed change in the zoning code, Mayor Jim Paine said the License and Fees Committee will consider stronger regulations when it comes to licensing the businesses, and the Public Safety Committee would consider regulations to restrict the sale of tobacco and vaping products to anyone under the age of 21.

Federal law already prohibits the sale to anyone under 21, but measures introduced in the Wisconsin Legislature to raise the age from 18 to 21 failed to garner a vote before two consecutive legislative sessions ended.

Councilor Lindsey Graskey proposed amending the ordinance so existing tobacco and vape shops would be subject to the new regulations on signs.

“I think this is a meaningful change that still lets them operate … and makes a meaningful change to the bigger goal,” Fennessey said.

The commission recommended the new regulations with the amendment to the City Council. Councilors consider the ordinance change July 2.

COMMENTS

482. Don’t you just love communists? Anyway, I think the funniest part of this article is the following that come to you from Jason Serck (More on him in a future Blog). Check out his position with the City:

“We’re not going to effect any business that exists today; however we’re going to hopefully by attrition get down to the one that would be allowed in the city of Superior,” said Jason Serck, economic development, port and planning director.”

You can’t make this S##t Up. I am curious to know if the Mayor ever consulted any of the businesses that would be affected before he wrote his manifesto. Feel free to send me an email if you are one of them. I’d love to know. The other reason local government should not be allowed to make these kind of decisions is that you can’t have all kinds of different regulations for the same product in the same state. It’s too confusing and complicated.

RESEARCH

483. I have sort of kept up with the vaping industry over the years but I don’t consider myself an expert and the point of this Blog today is not to take any sides on whether vaping is safe or not. But after spending about an hour scouring the internet the opinions are mixed. Some claim vaping is safe and others claim it isn’t. I did notice that Europe seems to have a more favorable opinion than the US does when it comes to vaping. This Blog is about abuse of government power which is far more dangerous than vaping or just about anything else.

MY ADVICE TO ALL THE STORES THAT MIGHT BE AFFECTED BY THIS

484. You have seen what Paine has done to me and my business. Be very careful. He is ruthless, undisciplined and has little regard for rules or procedures. I would start looking for a lawyer, better yet you may as a group hire a lawyer to keep the costs down. Most law firms in town won’t take a case against the city because of their relationship with them. That means you may not be able to use your current one. Also make sure you keep a file of everything starting today with his Facebook page and news articles. Follow all council meetings that pertain to your situation. And whatever rules that are out now, follow them as best you can. And watch out for a set up. If something doesn't look or feel right, look into into right away. Although he is not a very smart man, that’s partly what makes him dangerous. When I read his Facebook page and today’s paper it reminded me of the letter he sent me in April of 2022. And what do you think Jason Serck means when he said “attrition”. It means going out of business.

STATE OF THE STUPID

(FORMERLY KNOWN AS STATE OF THE CITY)

485. I am going to do a Blog On the Mayor’s 2024 State of the Stupid in a later Blog, but I wanted to extract one little point to prove a point. He said:



 “But we won’t forget the basics either,” Paine said. “We can still do the boring stuff.”

This is just another sign that he is bored with city politics. He is trying to build a portfolio or resume to show his Beloved Democrat Party (although he really is more like a Marxist/Communist) that he has what it takes as he seeks higher office. He can bully and control people which is a must in his party these days. But for the taxpayers of Superior he doesn't give two soiled s##ts what you care about. He could care less about No Mow May or whatever the hell that is, snowplowing and sidewalks, roads and more. Basically all the things you want from local government. No, he’s just bored of that stuff, always has been. I don’t want my Mayor shutting down businesses. I don’t want a Mayor changing the name of a national holiday. I don’t want the city buying a dilapidated library, theater and getting into the internet business. He doesn't know his audience. And that’s you. I want my Mayor to be as boring as possible. The roads and alleys in this town are borderline ghetto in some places. I want my Mayor to be so boring that he would have no interest when I mow my lawn and gets excited about fixing roads and alleys. You get the picture. 

FINAL WORDS