What has Minnesota taught us? Are we willing to ignore the fallout?

Smoker or nonsmoker, this issue is bigger than tobacco. If the principles of choice and freedom can be trumped by potential secondhand health concerns, note the aftermath of the ban in Minnesota and its effects on charity.

Charitable gaming

Below are the revenues for four counties in Minnesota. Two had bans. Two didn’t.

Hennepin County: TOTAL BAN
2004 Revenue: $33,878,728.43
2005 Revenue: $27,081,432.68
Loss in Revenue Under Ban: $6,797,295 - DOWN 20.06%

Ramsey County: PARTIAL BAN
2004 Revenue: $23,761,344.83
2005 Revenue: $21,968,159.08
Loss in Revenue Under Ban: $1,793,185 - DOWN 7.55%

Anoka County: No Ban
2004 Revenue: 17,917,542.93
2005 Revenue: 19,078,346.99
Gain in Revenue Under Ban: $1,160,804 - up 6.48%

Dakota County: No Ban
2004 Revenue: 11,529,092.90
2005 Revenue: 11,692,802.21
Gain in Revenue Under Ban: $163,709 - up 1.42%

Story: Bye Bye Big Bird-ie

It’s not simply pull tabs or black jack that keep charities a float. Bingo parlors provide vast amounts of donations for various charities. Taxes for the gaming establishments haven’t gone down even though their revenues had because of the ban. Fargo may lose more than a few bars, it may lose culture. The presidents of Prairie Public Broadcasting and the Plains Art Museum, both of which have bingo operations, said they have experienced steep revenue losses that they attributed to the anti-smoking law. It took effect last August. The Plains Art Museum has cut 16 staff positions at its Fargo museum and has reduced other expenses, said its president, Ed Pauley. “We will have to consider closing it altogether if it doesn’t turn around,” he said.

Here’s a short list of local charities already affected by the partial smoking ban. If you support any of these causes, support ours.

• Shriner’s Hostpital
• WWII Honor Flight
• Make a Wish
• Big Brother-Big Sister
• Habitat for Humanity
• Plains Art Museum
• Prairie Public Television
• Camp Casey
• American Diabetes Association
• Disabled American Verterans
• MS Walk
• American Gold Gymnastics
• West Fargo Hockey
• Legion Baseball
• VA Programs
• FMCT
• Sharehouse
• Teamsters
• Fargo Park District