BINGO AND THE BAN

It saddens me to read about the local bingo games in town losing money

because of the smoking ban. It saddens me to read about so many hypocritical

people who call themselves Petalumans, yet would rather drive 50 or so miles

to Lake County to support a casino-style bingo just so they can exercise a

vice that kills more than 100,000 Americans each year.

These are the same people who complain when they have to pony up money for a

football uniform for their son at Petaluma High, or a trumpet, or music

uniform for their daughter at Casa Grande.

Sonoma County banned smoking in local bingos because it was unfair to those

of us who don't smoke. We don't care if smokers want to take 10 to 20 years

off their lives -- that's their business.

However, we do enjoy playing bingo as much as smokers do, and we enjoy

playing bingo without having to worry about taking 10 to 20 years off our own

lives because of second-hand smoke.

Additionally, smoking is not completely banned.

When there was no ban, bingo would let out at approximately 10 p.m. at the

latest. Now, because there are at least three smoke breaks during the course

of the game, bingo gets out at 10:30 p.m., at the earliest.

Those of us who don't smoke aren't going out of town to look for a speedier

bingo game. The real sad part about this whole thing is that because of the

smokers' misguided loyalties to Petaluma, those of us who don't smoke, and who

enjoy playing bingo are finding that bingo is becoming more expensive with

less prize money and we just can't afford to go as much as we'd like to.

Unfortunately, the result is less attendance and less money for the various

programs.

If the programs funded by the local bingos are forced to cut back or cease

altogether, please do not blame the smoking ban.

The blame should be put on those people who refuse to give up a nasty habit

for a few hours a night in order to help a needy cause.

CAROLE HUYGEN,

Petaluma