Liberty's Blog: Galveston considers a Smoking Ban

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

Galveston considers a Smoking Ban

It looks like they are going, to make a no smoking ban, but the city council seems open to being a little less restrictive than earlier conciderations according to Daily News.

The city council is planning a town meeting on a proposal to ban smoking in bars, restaurants and other public spaces.

However, council members made clear Thursday they are likely to settle for an ordinance that does considerably less.

They hope to use public comments from a meeting next month to fashion an ordinance.

Months ago, the council began tossing around an ordinance banning smoking indoors in all public spaces.

But as members began hearing from business owners and others, they began to soften their stance.

"I think having a zero-tolerance policy would be harmful to some small businesses", Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas said Thursday.

Councilman Danny Weber said: "I think a total ban is a bad idea at this point in time."

Most of the other members of the council said they agreed.

Except Jackie Cole.

"Less than 20 percent of the population smokes," she said. "So you've got 80 percent of the population, if they choose to go out, they have to be exposed to this."

Thomas proposed to allow smoking in stand-alone bars. In restaurants, smoking areas would have to be in areas separated from nonsmoking areas with walls and their own air-handling systems.

"We need to give people time to do this," she said.

The rest of the council seemed to agree, but that raised doubts about the necessity of a new ordinance.

"I don't know if what you've got right now is any different," said Assistant City Attorney Mike Miller.

I don't see the need for all of this. If it becomes important to customers, then it becomes important to the proprietors. I don't understand why the bussiness owners can't make these decisions. Those who visit this blog and pay any attention to the little photo on the right hand side, might figure out that I enjoy a good cigar now and then. I won't go to a watering hole if I can't enjoy a cigar with my my beverage. The two just go together for me. Now if a bar doesn't want people smoking in their place of business, thats perfectly fine with me. I just will not go there. If some doesn't like smokey bars or restraunts they shouldn't go to smokey bars or restraunts, let the market dictate. We don't need Mayor Thomas' City council telling busineses how to operate. I do think we need to remember Jackie Cole come election time.

There will be a public meeting at the gymnasium at the Island Community Center, 4700 Broadway in Galveston. 6 p.m. Nov. 1. Its an opportunity to let the city leaders know what you think.