Coalition tries to fight ban on smoke

Publication Date: 2006-05-30

• Author:Sharon Dunn
• Publication:Greeley (CO) Tribune

A Denver man, vowing to put a stop to an impending statewide ban on smoking in any restaurant and bar, is just getting started. He's even winning over some nicotine-free folks.

Jim VonFeldt, owner of Billy's Inn, 4403 Lowell Blvd., and active in state politics involving liquor licensing and restaurant issues for more than 20 years, remembers vividly last month when the legislature voted to ban smoking in all state restaurants and bars.

"I was sitting in a room with 30 bar owners and everyone's jaw was just hanging," VonFeldt said in an interview this week. "Our lobbyist had given up. I leaned back and told them, 'I don't know about anyone else in this room, but this is one guy who's not going to lay down,' and hence, I started the coalition. Frankly, I'm surprised I've got as much backing as I have."

VonFeldt's group, Coalition for Equal Rights, is now 232 bar owners and $31,291 strong, including sympathizers across state lines.