A new ordinance, expected to be introduced at the City-County Council meeting Monday would eliminate current smoking-ban restrictions and give Indianapolis a comprehensive ban on smoking in public.
Democrat Councilor Angela Mansfield and Republican Ben Hunter are sponsoring the changes to the ordinance which currently prohibits lighting up in Indianapolis restaurants and public spaces.
“Overwhelmingly, my constituents want this,” Mansfield said. “It is about making our community a better place to live.”
Mansfield and Hunter’s proposal will call for a ban on smoking in bars, bowling alleys and nightclubs. Currently, 11 other Indiana cities or counties and 26 states have restrictions on smoking in all public places.
“We are way behind on [this type of ban],” said Missy Lewis, chairwoman of Smoke Free Indy, whose group lobbied for the existing ban. Lewis believes a tougher smoking policy would make for healthier workplaces for employees.
But opponents to the proposal argue that the restriction would hurt their business. Others, even some nonsmokers, argue the government is overstepping its authority and should not interfere with anyone’s right to smoke.
Since Indianapolis passed the current ordinance in 2005, comparable partial bans have been adopted in several communities surrounding Indianapolis, including Avon, Carmel and Greenwood. In addition, Franklin and Zionsville have passed comprehensive bans akin to the proposal the council will soon debate.
Other proposals have been met with a lot of resistance in the past. A bill banning smoking in most Indiana workplaces was watered down before it failed earlier this year in the Statehouse. Westfield passed a workplace ban just last month that exempted bars because of protests from local business owners.
Proponents of the proposal argue that tougher laws in other states have not hurt bars.
Phil Denton, owner of Greg’s, said there has been little effect on business since the local nightclub banned smoking August 1. Denton did admit the real test will be this winter when the patio used by smokers will be closed.
This is sure to be a lengthy debate and a vote on the measure may be a while in the future. The proposal will be introduced Monday then be discussed in a committee meeting October 14.
Comments
Marion County is indeed behind the curve in regards to this issue. Glad to see the ban might actually be happening.
Here's hope that Indianapolis city councilmembers aren't be fooled by slick anti-smoking lobbyists, and vote this measure DOWN. It is never right to pass laws motivated by dislike of a minority, and restricting use of a legal product in privately-owned businesses. Also, if this ban passes, it will infringe on private property rights, and on employees who voluntarily chose on purpose to work in a smoking environment! Requiring businesses catering to smokers to go smoke-free is JUST AS UNFAIR as requiring businesses that are voluntarily smoke-free to allow smoking tomorrow.
Many Indianapolis businesses that restrict entry to minors already have been prohibiting smoking on their own accord, so why can't those wanting smoke-free businesses patronize them? There is room for both smoking and smoke-free businesses to co-exist, and passing a total ban is NOT the answer. The existing smoking ordinance requires exterior signage for smoking establishments, so why change what already works?
You can see what the current ban has done for the city and county when you read about the financial position of the Capitol Improvements Board are referenced. The sports venues owned by we the tax payers are both in the red. The Convention Center is in the red. 97,000 smokers have been turned away from each venue, as well as, every theater in town.
Ms. Mansfield is the only sponsor of this bill who remains on the council. The head of the council at the time of it's passage is at the dog shelter. The other sponsor is now our county assessor and what a wonderful job he has done.
Both classes of people currently have places to go to enjoy a drink, only in Indianapolis. No one is forced to work in a smoke filled establishment, Indiana is an "at will" state.
Neither of these sponsors represent Broad Ripple or the businesses in the central business district.
The Chemistry of Secondary Smoke
About 94% of secondary smoke is composed of water vapor and ordinary air with a slight excess of carbon dioxide. Another 3 % is carbon monoxide. The last 3 % contains the rest of the 4,000 or so chemicals supposedly to be found in smoke… but found, obviously, in very small quantities if at all.This is because most of the assumed chemicals have never actually been found in secondhand smoke. (1989 Report of the Surgeon General p. 80). Most of these chemicals can only be found in quantities measured in nanograms, picograms and femtograms. Many cannot even be detected in these amounts: their presence is simply theorized rather than measured. To bring those quantities into a real world perspective, take a saltshaker and shake out a few grains of salt. A single grain of that salt will weigh in the ballpark of 100 million picograms! (Allen Blackman. Chemistry Magazine 10/08/01). - (Excerpted from "Dissecting Antismokers' Brains" with permission of the author
The Chemistry of Secondary Smoke
About 94% of secondary smoke is composed of water vapor and ordinary air with a slight excess of carbon dioxide. Another 3 % is carbon monoxide. The last 3 % contains the rest of the 4,000 or so chemicals supposedly to be found in smoke… but found, obviously, in very small quantities if at all.This is because most of the assumed chemicals have never actually been found in secondhand smoke. (1989 Report of the Surgeon General p. 80). Most of these chemicals can only be found in quantities measured in nanograms, picograms and femtograms. Many cannot even be detected in these amounts: their presence is simply theorized rather than measured. To bring those quantities into a real world perspective, take a saltshaker and shake out a few grains of salt. A single grain of that salt will weigh in the ballpark of 100 million picograms! (Allen Blackman. Chemistry Magazine 10/08/01). - (Excerpted from "Dissecting Antismokers' Brains" with permission of the author
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