Posted on 05/21/2004 6:31:28 AM PDT by MissTargets
CLEVELAND (AP) - An advisory panel says City Council should ban smoking in restaurants, workplaces and other public areas, but the council president said the group doesn't plan to take action soon.
Members of the Cleveland Clean Indoor Air Advisory Committee made their recommendation Wednesday. The group suggests making private clubs and 10 percent of hotel rooms exempt from the ban.
The panel is independent of council, which has not planned any smoking ban legislation, said Maxine Greer, council spokeswoman.
Council President Frank Jackson said he has not received a recommendation from the panel.
"If we do receive it, we don't plan to introduce or pass legislation any time soon to ban smoking," Jackson said in a news release Thursday. "City Council appreciates their interest in this issue, but other viewpoints must be considered."
Panel members began meeting in February to discuss the health consequences of secondhand smoke and the economic fallout from smoking bans. The group includes residents, people who work in public health, representatives of the Greater Cleveland Restaurant Association and the union representing hotel and restaurant employees.
Health experts say secondhand smoke causes as many as 65,000 deaths a year in the United States.
"If City Council will pass it, ... it will be a tremendous step forward," said Gary DeNelsky, chairman of the Cuyahoga County Tobacco Control Coalition. He was not on the panel.
Cleveland City Councilman Matthew Zone said he favors a tougher smoking law, but he wouldn't predict the chances of council adopting the panel's recommendation.
David Fitz, spokesman for Mayor Jane Campbell, was also noncommittal about whether the city will adopt the recommendations.
"We appreciate their thoughtful work and the mayor looks forward to meeting with them and hearing their recommendations," Fitz said.
Five states and 72 cities had imposed indoor-smoking bans as of January, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
IIRC they tried a few years ago, to ban indoor smoking, and also on the streets.
More and more places are smoke free, less people now smoke, more and more government bans are being enacted.........all of which means less exposure to SHS.
But they keep upping the bogus (even to begin with) numbers....
Health experts say secondhand smoke causes as many as 65,000 deaths a year in the United States.
Got a poll to FReep, guys.
I fear that things don't bode well for smokers. The trouble is that the smoking rate among adults is somewhere around 23 percent. That puts smokers in a decided minority, amongst a majority which finds secondhand smoke to be at best a sickening annoyance and at worst a health hazard.
the poll is about mid page on the left hand side.......
We need a good old fashioned FREEPING HERE!!!!
At least they are smart enough to realize this. Cleveland, like a lot of cities nationwide, is in pretty bad shape.
When is someone going to ban farting. That is really digusting and destroying the ozone layer.
And just like the false numbers of the "deaths" attributable to SHS, the numbers the ban addicts show to prove no economic fallout are bogus.
They love to mix apples and oranges to push their agenda.
Where I used to teach, ten years ago, they allowed smoking in offices with closed doors. Didn't do any good; the air circulation was closed so the smoke got everywhere. I would often get headaches by the end of the day from the smoke. I don't get that kind of headache now.
Or was it from the mildew in the AC? I can't be sure. However, I recall reading that the "sick building syndrome" business we used to hear about was actually a tobacco company public relations ploy to deflect attention away from environmental tobacco smoke. Anyone know if that allegation is true?
How long until smoking at home where small children are present will be sanctioned?
However, I recall reading that the "sick building syndrome" business we used to hear about was actually a tobacco company public relations ploy to deflect attention away from environmental tobacco smoke. Anyone know if that allegation is true?
I don't recall anyone ever proving such an allegation, although I have heard it periodicly over the years. The last time I heard it was in regards to a problem in a building that was smoke-free and had been for years.
Actually I think they pulled it out of part of their anatomy the sun nevers sees........if you get my drift!!!!
They have already started.
In Delaware if you run a business from your home, smoking is prohibitted during business hours under certain circumstances.
In Maine if you are a foster parent you can't smoke in your home or your car. (at least it was proposed, don't remember if it went through yet)
The camel has more than just it's nose under the tent.
I've had to learn.........because these types do have a tendency to cause me to forget I am a lady.
Excellent points but the real key issue is where does any city council get the authority to pass and enforce measures that infringe on the personal property rights of the public they're supposed to be serving. Codes and regulations created by these folks ARE NOT LAW and any type of citation issued by them for a violation can be easily defeated. Any codes/reg's they pass are only enforceable upon those folks associated with the "municipal corporation" as an employee or contractor and not the public at large. It's the same as if IBM was trying to enforce their corporate codes on the public....it's not enforceable in any way.
You are correct. We have been made to be the low lives, among society. Pushed outside, and looked down by anyone passing by. Not too long ago, smoking was cool. Ads on TV, ash trays in hospitals, smokers everywhere. Heck, if you gave blood they gave you cigarettes. Get a few flight attendances together, and a some good trial lawyers, and this is what we end up with. It snowballs.
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