US: Montgomery Residents & Business Owners Weigh in on Push to Ban Smoking

Source from:  WSFA 12 12/10/2014

Residents and business owners are speaking out about efforts to make Montgomery a smoke-free city.

An ordinance is in the works that would ban smoking in all public buildings and it's sparking debate. Those on both sides of the issue are making sure their voices are heard about the impact it could have on the city.

The Montgomery City Council's Health, Education & Recreation Standing Committee was scheduled to meet Monday regarding the proposed No Smoking Ordinance but there was no quorum. Officials, including Mayor Todd Strange and City Councilman CC Calhoun, still heard from those in the crowd that had gathered at city hall to hear their comments and concerns.

About six years ago, Montgomery passed an ordinance that required restaurants to go completely non-smoking or create a smoking section with a separate air filtration system. The new ordinance would ban all smoking, including in bars and clubs. It prohibits smoking within 20 feet of business entrances, public transportation stations and playgrounds.

Several bar owners stepped forward to say that the law would hurt business. They also expressed safety concerns about smokers being forced outside.

"It puts a lot of people out in parking lots smoking which is dangerous. Especially when you talk about late night hours. This is going to kill small business," said Wendy " Wind" Derome who works at 1048 Jazz and Blues Club in Montgomery.

"The regulation that we have in place now solves 90% of the problem. There are innumerable nonsmoking restaurants in the city of Montgomery. There are just a tiny little few smoking bars in the city of Montgomery. The people that want to go to a restaurant don't have to go to those smoking bars to eat but people who want to smoke in a bar only have the one or two or three options available to them," another speaker said.

"To alienate people that do smoke and make them feel uncomfortable, I don't think that's fair," a pub owner of 20 years added.

Meanwhile, advocates like Montgomery lung specialist Dr. David Franco, touted efforts to protect customers and workers from the dangers of secondhand smoke. He believes people will keep going to bars because they're going there to drink, not smoke.

"We have the right to breathe clean, smoke-free air. Nobody is arguing the right of people to smoke but we don't want to breathe their exhaled smoke because it's very dangerous. It causes lung cancer. It causes respiratory illnesses in children, ear infections, all kinds of problems, SIDS so we're hoping the council can be brave enough to enact a provision that will really protect the people of Montgomery," Dr. Franco told WSFA 12 News. "The city has a responsibility to the citizens to the children to protect our health and I think this is part of that responsibility and it's part of Montgomery moving forward as a more progressive community and being a better environment for its citizens."

SmokeFree Montgomery, a campaign to educate Montgomery citizens on the harmful effects of secondhand smoke exposure, says they have more than 2,000 letters of support from Montgomery residents backing the ordinance. The group has been fighting for 100% smoke free workplaces, restaurants and bars.

Chairwoman Ashley Lyerly believes it's good for health and for business because many people with health problems like asthma will patron smoke-free establishments.

"It is about protecting workers. No one should have to choose between their paycheck or their health. It is about public health. This ordinance would protect those workers and it would protect residents and patrons and make the city of Montgomery a viable city," she said.

Other fired back, saying patrons should have a choice.

"It's a right that we have in this town to either go to an establishment that has smoking or not smoking," Derome said. "And as an industry worker, they're saying they're trying to protect me as a worker. I choose to work in a smoking establishment. If I wanted to protect my own health, I would choose not to."

"Small businesses are getting smothered by government enough right now. It's kind of hard for somebody to come in and tell me what I can and cannot do inside my doors," another business owner added.

The city of Montgomery and city council have not taken a position on the smoking ban. The ordinance and the language in it are still being worked on as officials continue to gather feedback.

We're told the date for another public hearing on the ordinance will be announced at the next city council meeting on December 16th. Enditem