Possible Repeal Of Las Cruces Smoking Ordinance - Opponents Say Law Goes Too Far

koat ^

[chance33_98]

Possible Repeal Of Las Cruces Smoking Ordinance
Opponents Say Law Goes Too Far

POSTED: 3:27 p.m. MDT October 20, 2002

Some Las Cruces residents want to repeal a city ordinance that bans smoking in bars, private clubs and public parks.

The proposed measure would amend a 1997 ordinance that prohibited lighting up in city-owned buildings, restaurants, banks, schools, hospitals, city buses, grocery and retail stores, coin-operated laundries and theaters.

Now, the only exceptions to the city's clean indoor air ordinance are private residences, vehicles or hotel rooms that have been designated for smokers.

Long-time smoker Beverly Gutierrez says she believes the previous ordinance was effective enough, that's why she is helping to circulate petitions calling for the latest ordinance to be repealed. More than 2,000 people have signed the petitions.

Supporters of the ordinance say it is needed to protect the public's health and safety.

[chance33_98]

Ping

[SheLion]

More than 2,000 people have signed the petitions.

That's pretty neat. More than 2,000 signatures!!

[Gabz]

It's about time people started waking up!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Judith Anne]

This is interesting--I wonder about this--was the ban widely ignored? Did any business owner have financial problems due to the ban?

[Just another Joe]

Supporters of the ordinance say it is needed to protect the public's health and safety.

Then why can't they PROVE it?

[SheLion]

This is interesting--I wonder about this--was the ban widely ignored? Did any business owner have financial problems due to the ban?

I have been thinking about this! The ban was inacted in 1997??!! 5 years ago? And they are just now appealing it? What's going on here.

[SheLion]

Then why can't they PROVE it?

Then why can't they prove it, indeed!

[Judith Anne]

I have something interesting for us to think about. ;-D

In 1999, +/- 152,000 died of lung cancer. In that same year, 98,000 died from physician malpractice THAT WE KNOW OF--doesn't include, of course, those cases where nothing was proven, or the malpractice was covered up...

So, it looks to me that statistically speaking, it's only a tiny bit safer to visit your doctor than to smoke...I wonder what would happen if we added in the deaths attributable to hospital acquired infection, etc...

[Great Dane]

Did any business owner have financial problems due to the ban?

Somehow I don't think the ANTI's care about business, here in Ottawa businesses are still failing a year and 3 month after the ban took effect, right now even the Press Club is in danger of closing, pretty sad huh.

[wjcsux]

I live in NM. The Las Cruces City Council basically acts like a malevolent dictatorship. They not only rule the city with an iron hand, they are trying to spread their influence to the rest of Dona Ana county as well. They have been trying to expand the smoking ban to basically anywhere in the city limits. The only place to be exempt is your personal property.
The mayor of Las Cruces is Ruben (Butch) Smith who is basically a little Nazi.

[Gabz]

The only place to be exempt is your personal property.

When are these people going to understand if the owner of the business owns the building - it is personal private property????????

[ofMagog]

Interesting read.