Fitchburg decides to keep Madison's customers

Earlier this week the Fitchburg City Council decided to turn down a proposal to ban smoking inside public places and keep the additional customers they are getting from Madison. There is no doubt in my mind that Fitchburg bars (and those in Monona, Burke and other municipalities surrounding Madison) have increased their customer base now that smokers have to go there if they want to smoke at the bar.

A few months back I met some friends at Pitchers Pub, which is right across the Beltine from Madison in Fitchburg. The smoke was so heavy in the air that every smoker from Madison must have been stuffed inside. It was awful.

Alderman Jason Williams told the Wisconsin State Journal that the ban proposal was not about health, it's about wants. Williams would be wise to understand that the wants of his constituents is the reason he is there. Otherwise he may learn it the hard way during the next election.