Louisville Council Bans Smoking In Most Workplaces

[Roland99]

http://www.thelouisvillechannel.com/news/4841363/detail.html

After more than two hours of debate, the 26-member council voted 21-5 in favor of a ban that would prohibit smoking in most workplaces, but the ordinance added several exceptions, including Churchill Downs and freestanding bars.

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The wording in the adopted proposal says that "no person shall smoke in any building" and that statement was followed by 11 exceptions.

Some of those exceptions include: residential dwellings, retail tobacco stores, facilities operated by private organizations and buildings with fully-enclosed smoking areas.

Louisville is the largest city in a state with an adult smoking rate that is among the highest in the nation - 27.5 percent, according to 2004 figures from the Centers for disease control.

I figured this would pass and I also figured there would be exceptions like that (esp. with the money involved in those places.)

[Massacure]

1. Aren't most buildings private organizations and thus exempt?

[progressivebydesign]

2. That's great news!!!

This is wonderful for the asthmatics and others with lung disorders, those with smoke allergies, and those that have no interest in developing lung disease from other people's smoke.. while just trying to make a living. And a shout out to the musicians of the city, who will no longer have to play in a carcinogenic haze every night!!

I lived in a town that was one of the first to ban indoor smoking. It was wildly successful for both the health of the area AND for the businesses. It was so successful that other cities followed them when they realized they were losing customers to the smoke-free restaurants and bars.

YAY!! NON-SMOKERS RIGHTS PREVAILED!!

[Endangered Specie]

3. Good, Im tired of breathing in poison!

[doodadem]

4. This is a huge thing for Louisville

I'm guessing with my old employer, Philip Morris, pulling out of there, the powerful tobacco lobby is greatly diminished. I still vividly remember, as a "member of management", having to sit thru tons of classes there while the factory was shut down over xmas holidays. We were told on one occasion that we could go home early (a really big deal for us sleep-deprived third shifters), if we would sit and compose/sign a letter to our congressmen first saying that further banning of smoking was an infringement on my constitutional rights, yada yada. Surreal.......

[rfkrfk]

5. political lesson, 'How to Make Enemies' n/t