Hookah Club OK’d

Go to Gateway and then have a smoke. Real smart. How do you filer the air from a outside deck. Parking NONE. This thing about zoning. Why have it if it is always changed. Get rid of zoning altogether then they don't have to ask. The city will grow?? I don't think so.

Score another great story about lack of retail in downtown New Haven and victory for another entity that is self serving and brings no one downtown to shop. All I can say is, it was unanimous and that says everything about the climate and direction of New Haven today. I wish them well, however I wish they had opted to put interesting stores where there were stores since that building was built in the early teens and when the magnificent Poli theater was next door. How about a damn hardware store that is greatly needed in our future "green city"??? In NYC there is a store to buy all kinds of housewares, paint, picture hooks and hammers every 5 blocks…Here, There is obviously no plan or formula for the entire area, nor is there any control over the horrible signage and lighting that is popping up all over. Only the Yale properties have a formula and control over the climate of their domain and it is evident that they want to be the only shopping destination in downtown New Haven. Picture perfect signage, lighting and flagstone walkways and inviting long hours... Even the directional signage coming off the connector directs you to shopping on upper Chapel St and away from the Ninth Square area. So, Am I imagining things? I think not… lol.

I'm getting mixed messages about the dangers of smoking from my local government. On the one hand residents should be encouraged to quit. On the other hand, those who profit from smoking should be encouraged to do business downtown (across from our community college) and we should be proud "in bringing into New Haven "amenities you can't find elsewhere." I'm all mixed-up!

http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/tobacco_industry/hookahs/

<blockquote>Hookah Smoke and Cancer
The charcoal used to heat the tobacco can raise health risks by producing high levels of carbon monoxide, metals, and cancer-causing chemicals.1,4
Even after it has passed through water, the smoke from a hookah has high levels of these toxic agents.4
Hookah tobacco and smoke contain several toxic agents known to cause lung, bladder, and oral cancers.1,4
Tobacco juices from hookahs irritate the mouth and increase the risk of developing oral cancers.4,7
Other Health Effects of Hookah Smoke
Hookah tobacco and smoke contain many toxic agents that can cause clogged arteries and heart disease.1,4
Infections may be passed to other smokers by sharing a hookah.2
Babies born to women who smoked water pipes every day while pregnant weigh less at birth (at least 3½ ounces less) than babies born to nonsmokers.5,8
Babies born to hookah smokers are also at increased risk for respiratory diseases.8
Hookah Smoking Compared With Cigarette Smoking
While many hookah smokers may think this practice is less harmful than smoking cigarettes, hookah smoking has many of the same health risks as cigarette smoking.1,2
Water pipe smoking delivers nicotine—the same highly addictive drug found in other tobacco products.2
The tobacco in hookahs is exposed to high heat from burning charcoal, and the smoke is at least as toxic as cigarette smoke.1,2
Because of the way a hookah is used, smokers may absorb more of the toxic substances also found in cigarette smoke than cigarette smokers do.1,2

In my opinion, this is a great victory for the new proprietors and glad they received the necessary approvals. Wish they were open tomorrow but we'll have to patient and wait. I plan on bringing my friends to this high end, respectable, well thought-out establishment. Between the Hookah Lounge, rooftop patio and Food Court, New Haven's residents and visitors alike, are in for a treat. Good luck to you, gentlemen and see you on opening night!