Here is how each councilmember voted on the smoking ban:

Councilmembers-At-Large
# W. Wilson Goode, Jr.: for
# Jack Kelly: against
# James Kenney: for
# Juan Ramos: for
# Blondell Reynolds Brown: for
# Frank Rizzo, Jr.: against

District Council Members
# 1st – Frank DiCicco: for
# 2nd – Anna Verna (council president): against
# 3rd – Jannie Blackwell: against
# 4th – Michael Nutter: for
# 5th – Darrell Clarke: for
# 6th – Joan Krajewski: against
# 8th – Donna Reed Miller: for
# 9th – Marian Tasco: for
# 10th – Brian O’Neill: against

Analysis and call-outs after the jump.

Since yesterday’s passing of what we’re going to be calling The Smoking Ban That You Can Smoke Along To, we here at Philebrity have been staring at the above vote list for a solid 18 hours already, and not so much scratching our heads, but marveling at how well the list paints a picture of our loopy City Council. This list tells a tale, to be sure. Before we get started, we need to also let you know that we’re philosophically against any kind of smoking ban in bars and taverns. Restaurants are fine, but no government has the right to tell a man he can’t smoke while he drinks. That’s just the way we were brought up. And no, we don’t feel like hearing what you have to say about this.
That being said: Jim Kenney totally sold out his hacky-lunged constituency. We love Kenney a lot, and this makes us sad. But can we blame him? His previously anti-smoking ban stance was probably in line with our own, and the fact that he changed his mind makes his one of the more compelling little stories to come out of the fight over the ban, and much like his role in the Geno’s thing, it allowed him to knock out a solid quote:

‚ÄùI‚Äôve had people actually out in bars and restaurants who are smokers, who said to me, ‘I wish you‚Äôd pass it so I‚Äôd smoke less or I‚Äôd quit.’ ‚Äù

Whatever, Benedict Arnold. But here’s the bitch of it: We have to give the dude a pass because he is, at the end of the day, the smartest, most-down-to-earth person on City Council and it kills us that he’s not running for mayor because he’s ‚Äî speculation here ‚Äî afraid of Johnny Doc. But he’ll get over it one day, run for Mayor anyway, and this will look good on his resum?©. So at least you can tell he’s thinking ahead. Which is good.
Next up: Frank Rizzo, Jr. Against. Good on ya, little guy. Free drinks at your local for the rest of the summer! (We hope.)
Jannie Blackwell: Philebrity speculates that her vote against the ban exists merely because John Street was for the ban, and apparently, Blackwell is just gaga for pissing off John Street these days. But Jannie, it really is kind of gay that you let your hateration for Cap’n Weirdfro dictate your vote on such an important issue. You probably don’t even hang out in bars anyway. Philebrity doubts the veracity of your “against” vote.
And honestly, we couldn’t help but giggle a little when we read that Joan Krajewski voted against the ban. No shit, Sherlock: Have you ever heard this woman speak? She sounds like Patti and Selma combined, maybe with a slight hint of the voicebox dude from South Park.
The rest of you? As you were. Philebrity’s done speculating. At least we’ll be able to smoke at JB’s. We hope. Sigh.

This entry was posted on Friday, June 16th, 2006 at 11:41 am.