George A. Petrella – 2/17/09

This page was last updated on February 17, 2009.

Are clubs trying to send message?; George A. Petrella; Beaver County Times; February 17, 2009.

I could be wrong, but I believe this George Petrella isn’t the George Petrella who ran for the PA Senate in 2008.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“How fortunate that some people have a place to go to enjoy an afternoon or evening, have a drink, smoke and eat food with good friends at reasonable prices with the smoking laws the way they are today.

“It’s nice to have a place like that.

“I assume that the majority of clubs are financially stable, and I am happy for them, their members, smokers and nonsmokers, for what they worked for.”

[RWC] Get ready for the “but.”

“However, when they have entertainment that is open to the general public, why can’t they invest in a good ventilation system at the bar section to keep the smoke in there, or simply close the doors?

“We love to go to these places with people we know. I would love to be a member, stop by, eat and enjoy an evening out.

“I would love to that, but it would be impossible because of the smoke.

“When my wife and I get home, our clothes have to go into the dryer, we have to take a shower, and we can feel the smoke leaving our body.

“I take an allergy pill, use eye drops, spray a couple drops in my nose, get a headache and a raw, dry scratchy throat, stuffy nose, cough and a bad night’s sleep.

“Finally, after two days, I’m back to normal. Do you call that having a good time?”

[RWC] No one is holding a gun to Mr. Petrella’s head to go into a private club, whether it’s for “entertainment that is open to the general public” or not. I probably dislike tobacco smoke at least as much as Mr. Petrella and it affects me in many of the same ways. Unlike Mr. Petrella, however, I don’t believe I have the right to tell businesses, clubs, etc. they must accommodate my preferences. When I encounter a place where the smoke bothers me too much, I simply stop going there. Let’s say the situation were reversed. What if the club prohibited smoking and Mr. Petrella wanted to smoke? Should the club be forced to accommodate smokers?

“I just don’t get it unless they are telling us to stay away. I think I’m getting the hint. Are they disobeying the law?”

[RWC] Have you noticed what position this is similar to? It’s the same as too many of today’s immigrants have about language. They believe Americans should learn the immigrants’ languages, not vice versa. Mr. Petrella has written at least three letters [“Immigration changes needed” (11/15/05), “Go after illegals’ employers” (6/12/06), and “A nation of grasshoppers” (6/25/07)] correctly asserting immigrants must learn English and everything should “be written in English.” Despite this, when Mr. Petrella chooses to go into a private club, he wants the club members to change to accommodate his preferences.

As too many of us, Mr. Petrella thinks a private club’s choices are about him.