[Fear not, busybody budge! Should Raimondo venture to New York City, local control-freak Mike Bloomberg will smack that cig right out of his mouth.]
XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX SUN JAN 19, 2003 10:35:25 ET XXXXX
NEW YORK CITY MAYOR FUMED OVER 'SMOKING' ON STAGE AT STONES CONCERT
**Exclusive**
New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg is fuming mad over Rolling Stones members smoking on stage at Madison Square Garden during an nationally televised concert this weekend, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.
"The mayor sent cops to issue summonses," one stage source told the DRUDGE REPORT late Saturday. "But the cops watched the show, off stage, by a monitor, instead of stopping the concert."
HBO cameras captured band members Keith Richards and Ron Wood smoking cigarettes while performing.
"The band raced out of the Garden after they finished their last number, avoiding the police," an insider said. "The music had not even finished playing; and they were in cars already, spinning away. They did not even go to their dressing rooms!"
Madison Square Garden regulations state: there is no smoking permitted. "This policy is strictly enforced. Violation of this regulation is grounds for ejection."
In December, ex-smoker Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed a strict smoking ban in New York City.
Bloomberg is also trying to get smoking banned in Central Park.
[end]
Carl (smoker, hiding out in NYC's suburbs)
_________________________________________________________________ Add photos to your e-mail with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail