do we really have to wait 2 1/2 more years??
Council vote near on smoking ban
By Gary Washburn
Tribune staff reporter
Published December 7, 2005, 11:03 AM CST
Chicago aldermen today hammered out a compromise ordinance that would ban smoking in virtually all public places in the city, but give restaurant bars and taverns 2 ½ years to come into compliance.
The City Council Finance Committee signed off on the measure this morning, minutes before the regular council meeting was to begin at City Hall. Mayor Richard Daley on Tuesday said he had no problem with the compromise, so the full council is expected to approve the deal today.
The ban would take effect Jan. 16. Smoking would be allowed in freestanding bars and taverns, and within 15 feet of any restaurant bar, until July 1, 2008.
The measure is essentially the same one aldermen tentatively agreed to Tuesday, except the end of smoking in drinking establishments was changed to 2 ½ years from 3 years as originally proposed.
Additionally, if a restaurant bar or tavern can show it has installed air purification equipment that ensures the same air quality inside as outside, it will be granted a permanent exemption from the smoking ban. Eleventh-hour negotiations were necessary overnight to resolve the air purification issue.
With the measure's expected passage, smoking will be barred from nearly every public place in the city, from baseball stadiums to condominium lobbies to shopping malls.
Smoking will continue to be allowed in private residences except those doubling as public venues, such as licensed child-care facilities. People also will be able to light up in retail tobacco stores, private veterans' facilities such as American Legion and VFW posts, and at not-for-profit facilities such as church bingo halls.
Ald. Burton Natarus (42nd), who proposed a smoking ban containing a permanent exemption for taverns and enclosed bars in restaurants, on Tuesday expressed satisfaction with the accord and said that restaurant industry representatives were on board.
Ald. Ed Smith (28th), sponsor of a more stringent measure backed by the American Lung Association and the American Cancer Society that would have prohibited smoking beginning in April in virtually all public places, including bars and restaurant lounges, also voiced support.
But Joel Africk, chief executive officer of the American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago, was distressed by the deal, saying three more years of second-hand smoke could result in 3,000 deaths and 5,400 heart attacks in the city.
-all i can say is that thank god it's happening. i wish it was all at once. i might actually go out every once in a while! wouldn't it be something if the whole chicagoland area had smoke-free indoors? i'd be lovin life!! i'd actually go to the bars! if it were really up to me, though, i'd make cigarettes illegal. or we can send all the smokers to their own little island along with all the cigarettes. those who wanted to quit would be able to come back, of course, since there would be no cigarettes availible to them.
By Gary Washburn
Tribune staff reporter
Published December 7, 2005, 11:03 AM CST
Chicago aldermen today hammered out a compromise ordinance that would ban smoking in virtually all public places in the city, but give restaurant bars and taverns 2 ½ years to come into compliance.
The City Council Finance Committee signed off on the measure this morning, minutes before the regular council meeting was to begin at City Hall. Mayor Richard Daley on Tuesday said he had no problem with the compromise, so the full council is expected to approve the deal today.
The ban would take effect Jan. 16. Smoking would be allowed in freestanding bars and taverns, and within 15 feet of any restaurant bar, until July 1, 2008.
The measure is essentially the same one aldermen tentatively agreed to Tuesday, except the end of smoking in drinking establishments was changed to 2 ½ years from 3 years as originally proposed.
Additionally, if a restaurant bar or tavern can show it has installed air purification equipment that ensures the same air quality inside as outside, it will be granted a permanent exemption from the smoking ban. Eleventh-hour negotiations were necessary overnight to resolve the air purification issue.
With the measure's expected passage, smoking will be barred from nearly every public place in the city, from baseball stadiums to condominium lobbies to shopping malls.
Smoking will continue to be allowed in private residences except those doubling as public venues, such as licensed child-care facilities. People also will be able to light up in retail tobacco stores, private veterans' facilities such as American Legion and VFW posts, and at not-for-profit facilities such as church bingo halls.
Ald. Burton Natarus (42nd), who proposed a smoking ban containing a permanent exemption for taverns and enclosed bars in restaurants, on Tuesday expressed satisfaction with the accord and said that restaurant industry representatives were on board.
Ald. Ed Smith (28th), sponsor of a more stringent measure backed by the American Lung Association and the American Cancer Society that would have prohibited smoking beginning in April in virtually all public places, including bars and restaurant lounges, also voiced support.
But Joel Africk, chief executive officer of the American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago, was distressed by the deal, saying three more years of second-hand smoke could result in 3,000 deaths and 5,400 heart attacks in the city.
-all i can say is that thank god it's happening. i wish it was all at once. i might actually go out every once in a while! wouldn't it be something if the whole chicagoland area had smoke-free indoors? i'd be lovin life!! i'd actually go to the bars! if it were really up to me, though, i'd make cigarettes illegal. or we can send all the smokers to their own little island along with all the cigarettes. those who wanted to quit would be able to come back, of course, since there would be no cigarettes availible to them.