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Council Passes Smoking Ban
Bill To Go Into Effect In 90 Days
POSTED: 8:47 pm EDT June 28, 2004
UPDATED: 9:15 am EDT June 29, 2004
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Columbus City Council passed a proposed public smoking ban Monday night during an emotionally-charged meeting that drew supporters from both sides of the issue.
The legislation would ban smoking in Columbus bars, bowling alleys and restaurants, NewsChannel 4's Monique Ming Laven reported.
The citywide smoking ban passed by a 5-1 margin and will go into effect in 90 days. Councilman Richard W. Sensenbrenner voted against the smoking ban. Councilman Michael Mentel was not present for the vote due to a death in his family, Laven reported.
The original ordinance was amended to allow smoking in outdoor patio areas and the elimination of escalating fines and a 20-foot smoke-free zone outside the establishment.
A representative from Mayor Michael Coleman's office said the mayor expects advocates of the bill to lobby surrounding communities to join the city and pass their own smoking bans. If the communities do not, more amendments could be made to the bill, Laven reported.
The ban also would allow for amendments in the future if ventilation systems are invented that do a much better job of filtering air.
Monday night's debate -- which happened inside and outside of Council chambers -- was emotional.
"The problem is that these businesses rely on their smoking customers," said bowling alley owner George Hadler.
"The ban promotes "the right to breathe, man," said ban supporter Sam Gresham. "That's more fundamental than anything else."
Opponents called the vote a defeat.
"I think our business will drop dramatically," said bartender Janet Stoltzer. "On any given night that I work, 95 percent of the people that are in the bar are smoking."
Many citizens who oppose the bill believe it infringes upon business owners' rights and could cost the city money. If the ban is passed, some smoking customers say they'll travel to establishments outside the city where smoking is permitted.
The Coalition for Consumer Choice, which opposed the ban, will meet Tuesday to decide what to do next. Options include a lawsuit against the city, putting the issue to a vote on the November election ballot or asking the mayor to veto the bill. A representative for Coleman said he would not veto the bill, Laven reported.
A council representative said the city received more than 21,000 e-mails and 600 phone calls in support of the citywide smoking ban.
Advocates of the bill believe the ban would protect customers as well as employees.
The ban would not apply to open-air patios and would allow for changes in the future if ventilation systems were invented that would improve filtering air.
Bill To Go Into Effect In 90 Days
POSTED: 8:47 pm EDT June 28, 2004
UPDATED: 9:15 am EDT June 29, 2004
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Columbus City Council passed a proposed public smoking ban Monday night during an emotionally-charged meeting that drew supporters from both sides of the issue.
The legislation would ban smoking in Columbus bars, bowling alleys and restaurants, NewsChannel 4's Monique Ming Laven reported.
The citywide smoking ban passed by a 5-1 margin and will go into effect in 90 days. Councilman Richard W. Sensenbrenner voted against the smoking ban. Councilman Michael Mentel was not present for the vote due to a death in his family, Laven reported.
The original ordinance was amended to allow smoking in outdoor patio areas and the elimination of escalating fines and a 20-foot smoke-free zone outside the establishment.
A representative from Mayor Michael Coleman's office said the mayor expects advocates of the bill to lobby surrounding communities to join the city and pass their own smoking bans. If the communities do not, more amendments could be made to the bill, Laven reported.
The ban also would allow for amendments in the future if ventilation systems are invented that do a much better job of filtering air.
Monday night's debate -- which happened inside and outside of Council chambers -- was emotional.
"The problem is that these businesses rely on their smoking customers," said bowling alley owner George Hadler.
"The ban promotes "the right to breathe, man," said ban supporter Sam Gresham. "That's more fundamental than anything else."
Opponents called the vote a defeat.
"I think our business will drop dramatically," said bartender Janet Stoltzer. "On any given night that I work, 95 percent of the people that are in the bar are smoking."
Many citizens who oppose the bill believe it infringes upon business owners' rights and could cost the city money. If the ban is passed, some smoking customers say they'll travel to establishments outside the city where smoking is permitted.
The Coalition for Consumer Choice, which opposed the ban, will meet Tuesday to decide what to do next. Options include a lawsuit against the city, putting the issue to a vote on the November election ballot or asking the mayor to veto the bill. A representative for Coleman said he would not veto the bill, Laven reported.
A council representative said the city received more than 21,000 e-mails and 600 phone calls in support of the citywide smoking ban.
Advocates of the bill believe the ban would protect customers as well as employees.
The ban would not apply to open-air patios and would allow for changes in the future if ventilation systems were invented that would improve filtering air.