Mandarino: American Legion smokers relegated to patio

Shame on the American Legion Post No. 27 board and nonresident members. After spending over $50,000 to install a state-of-the-art ventilation system to appease the nonsmoking zealots, the board and non-resident members voted to relegate smokers to the patio.

The state-of-the-art ventilation system pushed the smoke out of the facility. There was no chance of so-called secondhand smoke danger.

If you have a disease like COPD, there is no effect. And for the ridiculous statement their clothes smelled like smoke — “that boat don’t float.”

At the emergency meeting the non-Arizona residents lined up to tell their stories. An overweight person had the mic and whined about “I have COPD” like it was a badge of honor. Then the West Virginia man said “This is what we did in West Virginia” and was countered with a fact, “This is Arizona not West Virginia.”

Of course, there was the comment about secondhand smoke, which is built on false figures about secondhand smoke deaths. In California if you die, there is a question on the form “Has this person ever been around a smoker?” If you answer yes, you are listed as a secondhand smoke death.

Finally, there was a pseudo smoker who held up his menthol pack of cigarettes and stated he was willing to go the patio. How special is that.

So, the board in collusion with the nonresident, nonsmoking zealots voted that the smokers be relegated to the patio.

Let me repeat, this is after the smokers agreed to spend $50,000 to put in the state-of-the-art ventilation.

This is proof that pure democracy does not work, the mob ruled. Shame on you.

Editor’s note: Robert Mandarino is a member of American Legion Post No. 27.