Ban on Smoking Chokes Funds For southwest Ohio ARC chapter

Smoking bans, when put to a public vote, pass. The majority of voters don’t smoke, and would prefer to be able to enjoy a night out without gasping for clean air or coming home smelling like a used ashtray.

People who support smoking bans, however, rarely stop to think of the effect it may have on local charitable organizations.

But for the ARC of Clermont and Brown Counties, the smoking ban has cut off a large source of funds, putting their services to people with disabilities in peril.

The ARC (which used to stand for Association of Retarded Citizens) is a local, grassroots organization that provides services to and advocates for people with developmental disabilities. There are dozens of chapters in Ohio, operating under the umbrella of the ARC of Ohio.

In Brown/Clermont, the ARC runs a Saturday night bingo game. Due to the recent smoking ban, the normal crowd has been reduced by two-thirds, from 150 down to 50. The ARC believes the first 50 stopped coming because of the ban; the second 50 stopped coming because the reduced crowd meant less money for door prizes and winning payouts.

"The smoking ban really did hurt us because most of the people are going to Kentucky or Indiana now to play bingo, or they'll go to Argosy (Casino) in Lawrenceburg," said Jessica Ruebel, executive director.

The local ARC is likely going to have to turn over operations to the ARC of Ohio. They are $85,000 in debt and the director, Jessica Ruebel, hasn’t been paid since August.

"We are fighting to stay alive," Ruebel said.