My phone has been ringing off the hook this afternoon, as callers demand to know if it's true. "You mean (Judge) Bozza really ruled against the smoking ban?" one incredulous woman asked. When I told her it was so, her response was typical. She was furious.

Erie County's government leaders plan to appeal Bozza's decision, but it's surprising how negative the response from readers has been. Eight angry readers have called in, while another 17 have sent e-mails. It sounds as if they had fully expected Bozza to reject claims by the Erie Tavern Association that the ban be dropped.

Not being a lawyer, I have no idea what the legal merits of the case are. But this strikes me as a gut-level issue in which, judging from the folks I'm hearing from, most people are sick of being exposed to second-hand smoke in bars and restaurants. They consider it a health issue, and can't understand how Bozza could think of it any other way.

Many have had a taste of clean air in bars and restaurants in nearby New York state, which has been smoke free since 2005, and they couldn't wait for such laws to take effect in Pennsylvania.

This has been one of the most highly-debated topics on the editorial pages of the Erie Times-News, and, based on Bozza's ruling, I expect it to continue that way.

"This stinks," said an angry Mary Holman. "In just about every way you can think of."

-- Kevin Cuneo

** Send me a comment about this blog, so we can have a dialogue **