Welcome

Welcome to the new PPPRM website. We will keep you updated with information, legislation and calls for action. 

As the situation for Michgian small business owners becomes more and more urgent by the day -- the PPPRM will be there, to finally add a grassroots voice in the fight to preserve the property rights of all Michiganders -- Individuals, business owners and workers.

Check our website often about more PPPRM initiatives and action or check out our very popular Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=201889528790

Recent News:

Bar and tavern owners and workers to meet with lawmakers, Nov. 21st in Warren, MI

Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=304724456220513

 

OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S OWN STUDY SHOWS BARS LOSE CUSTOMERS (SMOKERS AND NON-SMOKERS) AFTER BAN!! ODH attempted to cover-up results. 

http://www.wlwt.com/r/29420203/detail.html#ixzz1a8DqQwfJ

 

Sept. 1st, 2011

State Lawmakers Banned From Bars, Taverns, and Pubs

Bar owners may find links to your local legslator's photos, "No Politicians" signs and much more on the PPPRM Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/201889528790/

August 1st, 2011

The Legislature will be returning to work very soon. Your calls, emails, letters has woken the majority in Lansing up. Woken them to the realities of the private property tobacco use ban--That it is bad for Michigan jobs and small businesses.

For a list of confirmed closed businesses please vist the PPPRM Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/201889528790/

06-15-11

-Lottery Commissioner M. Scott Bowen testifies to House Committee ban costing state in excess of $80M in lost bar Keno Sales.

-Ban exempted Detroit casinos revenues soar.

Lansing and Michgian media remain silent.

 

05-19-11 PPPRM Invites ACS's Judy Stewart to "last call" night for Royal Oak's Four Green Fields Irish Pub.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_201889528790

05-10-11 Boyd Cottrell and Sporty O'Tooles files appeal of Constitutional Case. More to come.

 

Judge: Parts of Michigan Smoking Ban "Confusing"

Judge Throws Out Fine For Smoking Violation

Warren bar owner fighting Michigan's smoking ban won't have to pay fine, judge rules.

http://www.freep.com/article/20110418/NEWS04/110418035/0/NEWS04/Warren-bar-challenging-Michigan-s-smoking-ban-won-t-pay-fine-judge-rules?odyssey=nav|head

 

The Little Guys Standing Up, Together! Show of Support and Rally for Boyd Cottrell and his workers!

Private Property Tobacco Use Ban Goes on Trial - Motions hearing Monday April 18th in Macomb Circuit Court.

Buses and car pools being set up across the state!!!

*See the PPPRM event Page.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=137240029681932&index=1

BUSINESS OWNERS FIGHT BACK!

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/news/andrea_isom/businesses-want-to-fight-smoking-ban-with-tax-dollars-20110329-wpms

PPPRM to produce documentary: The Real Effect.

*See Spotlight Page.

Lottery losses over $82M in first 45 weeks of the private property tobacco use ban!

Class C establishments ONLY -- Keno sales since ban, down over $82M. Projected to go above $100M in losses.

*This does not include losses to other types of establishment that sell Michigan Lottery games.

Call For Action!

Call the House and Senate Speakers offices. Call the floor leaders offices. Call the committee chair's offices. CALL TODAY! Tell them Michigan doesn't support property rights infringing laws! SEE SPOTLIGHT PAGE!

 

01/28/2011-PPPRM Executive Director Steve Mace featured in Bloomfield-Birmingham Magazine, The Paper.

http://www.oaklandpaper.com/Scribd.Item-4196.113117-Flip-Book-February-2011.html

1/24/2011 - CALL TO ACTION!!

Monday January 24th we are asking PPPRM supporters and members to call your county commissioners.

DEMAND answers to who is continuing to pay for this unfunded mandate. 

This call to action is in direct response to: Most recently it is has been released in the media that counties were allegedly conducting "spot checks" AT THE DIRECTIVE of the MDCH!! Who is paying for this? If these claims are true, why is your county paying for this? Why are YOU paying for this? 

Please send responses from your county commissioners office to PropertyRightsMI@gmail.com so we may collect the information. Please include who you spoke with and the answers they provided you, the taxpayer.

1/19/2011 - PPPRM Executive Director Attends State of the State Address

On January 19th PPPRM executive director Steve Mace accepts state representative's invitation and attends Governor's State of the State address at the Michigan House of Representatives. 

12/31/2010

 

 

 

 

On New Year's Eve over 750 small business owners refused to enforce the Ron Davis law in protest of the unequal enforcement policies. Under the law ONLY business owners can be fined - Despite the language of the law. 45 district and county health departments are enforcing the law 45 different ways - This enforcement practice still continues.

May 1, 2010-Present - The state has lost over $33M in tax revenue. State Lottery Bureau reports over $29.4M in lost bar Keno sales. Thousands of hospitality industry jobs lost (DELEG). Over 300 liquor licenses placed in escrow or surrendered due to business closings. 

 

PPPRM in the News -- Local, State and National

 

http://blogpublic.lib.msu.edu/index.php/2010/06/19/protect-private-property-rights-in-michi?blog=5

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2010/12/31/michigan-group-fights-states-smoking-ban/

http://www.mlive.com/business/mid-michigan/index.ssf/2010/10/martini_and_cigar_bar_in_bay_c.html

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/07/09/Bar-owners-target-Michigan-smoking-ban/UPI-89291278711080/

http://blogpublic.lib.msu.edu/index.php/2010/09/25/prtect-property-rights-in-michigan-amend-michigan-smoking-ban?blog=5

http://www.keno.cd/protect-private-property-07142010.html

http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20110114/OPINION02/101140305/Small-businesses-need-smoking-ban-amended

http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2010/06/19/news/local_news/doc4c1c16fe1ace3192579066.txt

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/26330607/detail.html

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20101231/business/101239908/

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-12-31-michigan-smoking-ban_N.htm

http://www.wwmt.com/news/new-1385574-owners-smoking.html

http://www.nacsonline.com/NACS/News/Daily/Pages/ND1227102.aspx

http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/michigan/New-Years-Eve-smoking-ban-protest

http://www.connectmidmichigan.com/news/story.aspx?id=561450

http://articles.petoskeynews.com/2010-12-31/smoking-ban_26353689

http://www.cigarcyclopedia.com/news-views/cigar-news/2020-michigan-bars-to-protest-smoking-ban-on-new-years-eve

http://www.greenfieldreporter.com/view/story/cdf2303219ba4ede828e821355bbccf7/MI--Smoking_Ban-Protest/

http://www.allvoices.com/news/7758811-bar-owners-plan-new-years-eve-smoking-ban-protest

http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2010/12/oakland_county_group_says_hund.html

http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/dec/31/bar-owners-plan-new-years-eve-smoking-ban/

 

 

 

Protect Private Property Rights in Michigan is a 501(c)(4) non-profit.

 

 

Non-profit, non-partisan, grassroots. 

 

 

Donate

Donate securely through our online donation page.

OR

You may continue to send your generous donations by mail.

Make checks payable to: 

PPPRM

Send to: P.O. Box 827, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48303

*Please do not mail cash. 

Spotlight 

 

Letter to Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville:

To: Senator Richardville
From: Steve Mace, Executive Director, PPPRM

May 10th, 2011

Senator,

My name is Steve Mace. I am the executive director of the grassroots organization, Protect Private Property Rights in Michigan.

We represent over 3300 members across the state. Many of whom are your own constituents. Of our members, hundreds are small business owners and workers. Bars, taverns, pubs, restaurants; support industry business owners, such as suppliers, vendors, coin operators, entertainers, musicians and many more.

I am writing you today to put forth a plea, on their behalf, as it has clearly and sadly come to this in our State -- Michigan small business owners and workers must now beg to be heard...

Thousands of Michigan small businesses and workers are losing under the Ron Davis law. That is no longer a secret. The state is even willingly losing revenues under the ban. Over $80M in bar Keno sales alone, thus far. But what is a secret is why our legislature will do nothing?

Why are Michigan Lawmakers, in both the House and Senate offering nothing more than hollow compassion; and many others merely lip service? These small business owners and workers are people -- no matter what the pro-ban lobby says. These are our fellow Michiganders.

Small business owners and their workers are beginning to widely believe they mean nothing, to anyone, at the Capital. That they are an acceptable sacrifice to a law that was passed on behalf of a special interest group. A special interest group with nothing vested in their businesses and industry.

It is understood the small, well funded pro-ban lobby has effectively dehumanized tobacco consumers and demonized Michigan small business owners and their workers -- Leading the public to believe that these Michiganders are "bad people"; and we as a State require the government to "save us" from them. When this occurred, make no mistake, Michigan became a 'nanny-state'.

We believed the election of last November sent a clear message to Lansing; that the People of Michigan reject government paternalism. A path that was set upon by the previous legislature and administration. While many were term limited, many who believe in broad government overreach and power over the everyday lives of Michiganders were then made involuntarily 'unemployed', if you will? Was the message not received; or has Lansing forgotten already?

Nonetheless Sir, where are these small business owners who continue to struggle under this unclear, unequally enforced, corporate exemption granting law supposed to turn?

You are a 'leaders of leaders' -- who are these People that do not have lobbyists to turn to -- If not you, then who? Who will listen to those struggling under this law? Thus far, no one at the Capital will. Am I to tell them, "Lansing does not care"? "Your property rights are irrelevant now"? "Your privately owned establishments are now 'public' property; but you still remain responsible for the property taxes to be paid"? Am I to confirm what they already feel and believe... that our elected officials don't care about them?

We realize there has been a senate bill introduced by Senator Jones to exempt outdoor patios and allow for separate smoking rooms. This does nothing for your corner mom and pop taverns -- Those struggling the most severe consequences of the Ron Davis law. While such an exemption may help some, it would certainly not help most with their losses. Small businesses that have no additional property. No means in which to spend $40, $50, $60 thousand dollars to build such amenities. Again, we are picking and choosing who survives, and who is sacrificed at the alter of special interests. Despite the public misconception, these small business owners are not millionaires with limitless resources. This is a band-aid solution, and further illustrates the disconnect between Lansing and small business owners and workers.

Lawmakers must, must, remove themselves from the mindset that Applebees is the same business model and caters to the same clientele as a local tavern. Stating they are the 'same' due to being considered the 'hospitality industry'. It makes as little sense as stating Walmart is the same type of business as a local party store; because they are a part of the 'retail industry'. Continuing to draw that parallel simply does not makes sense.

Again, we plead with you to tell us... tell Michigan small business owners and workers how can, when and will they be heard? What will it take to no longer be ignored? When will those who have no vested interest, whatsoever, be shown the exit? When will those who are losing everything have a turn? When will the demonization of Michigan small business owners stop?

Make no mistake Senator, this law is hurting hundreds of businesses across the State; and including the pro-ban lobby, we all know this -- Are small business owners and workers to simply accept their fate? A fate that was chosen for them? Quietly fade away? Or are there Lawmakers left that believe our Constitution means something? That the Constitution is the law of the land? -- That private property rights still do exist? Does our State still hold true that: whether someone believes in what someone else is saying or not, it is the others right to say it? Whether someone believes in the right to bear arms or not, it is still the law of the land. Or have special interest group conducted and manufactured "polls" and "studies" become the law? Although not a part of our organization's initiatives or beliefs... If that were the case, then why is capital punishment not law in our State? Actual independent polls do say the majority of Michiganders support capital punishment.

Smoking is not a wise choice. Our members believe that. In fact the vast majority of our members, including the vast majority of business owners are not tobacco users. What we are, however, are Michiganders who believe in right and wrong. Michiganders who believe in the Constitution. The Constitution says their property rights are inalienable, but, we have a state law that says otherwise. the backbone of our economy, small businesses, are being harmed and even closed because of the Ron Davis law. Business owners may not choose what is in the best interest of their own businesses under this law. That Sir, is very, very wrong -- Unconstitutional, unethical, and against every core principle of which our Nation, our Great State stands for.

When will a lawmaker be brave enough to finally put pen to paper, and be forthright and honest enough to say, "this law isn't right and it needs to be changed, now"?

In December of 2009 you pressed 'no' in the Senate vote. If your conscience allows you to do nothing for the backbone of our economy now, after Michiganders voted to have those who believe in the Constitution as the rule of law lead us, then Sir, you may as well have pressed 'yes' in 2009.

This correspondence to you will be posted online for our thousands of members to read; as it is they who are coming to you Senator, on bended knee, to beg for answers -- not more dismissal.

Our thousands of members: smokers, non-smokers, democrats, republicans, small business owners, workers; all of whom are your fellow Michiganders.. eagerly await your reply.

Kindest Regards,

--
S. Mace
Executive Director
P.P.P.R.M.

 

Poll results: 76% of Michiganders say "repeal the ban".

 

CALL FOR ACTION!

Who you need to contact:

Senate Majority Leader: Randy Richardville (517) 373-3543
SenRichardville@senate.michigan.gov 

House Majority Leader: Jim Stamas (517) 373-1791
JimStamas@house.mi.gov

House Speaker: Jase Bolger (517) 373-1787
JaseBolger@house.mi.gov

House Committee on Regulatory Reform Chair: Hugh Crawford (517) 373-0827
HughCrawford@house.mi.gov 

Tell these leaders that the Ron Davis law has failed. Its time for the government to get out of small business. Let business owners, workers and Michiganders decide, for themselves, what is in their OWN best interest. 

They were elected for a reason. Stop the job losses, stop the business closings, stop heading down the Big Brother path the previous administration paved.

Tell them: Tear up the Ron Davis law! 

The longer they wait, the more businesses WILL close. Causing MORE Michigan job losses! All due to an unequally enforced, unequally enforceable, property rights infringing law!