It's official...no smoking in public as of June 1st.

[The_Dude]

(Fort Wayne - WANE) Fort Wayne smokers will now have to put out their cigarettes when they go to a public place. The final vote Tuesday night snuffs out smoking in all public places.

Seven councilmen voted for the ban, one member, Tom Didier, voted no, and Councilman Glynn Hines abstained. The votes followed the preliminary vote at last week's council meeting.

Those who voted for it said employees' health will benefit from a smoke-free work place and that businesses shouldn't worry about losing money because other cities who have smoking bans have seen an increase in customers.

Didier said he voted against the ban because he wants businesses to be able choose their own policies.

"This basically takes the nails out of the coffin and puts them into the boards on the windows of the bars that will close now," Didier said.

Dozens of people came out to listen to the vote. People who opposed the ban jeered and booed with each vote in favor of the ban. In the middle of the vote, after there were enough votes to pass the ban, many people wearing a shirt saying, "I smoke, I vote," got up a left as they yelled in disgust for the ordinance.

"I believe in non-smoking in public buildings, but this is infringing on my right to go where I want to go," Dan Wyles said. "What I do and where I go is up to me. If you're over 21, it's your choice."

Shorty Geiger of the Allen County Council for Veterans said they plan to petition the ban.

"We're not taking this lying down, because if we do, what will they take next," Geiger said. "We fought for the right to be a member of our organization and now they are coming in the back door and taking our rights away. If there's alcohol and veterans, there's going to be a cigarette lit."

This ordinance is more restrictive than Allen County's current ordinance. Allen County's ordinance allows smoking in bars, private clubs and in bowling alleys during certain hours.

"This is now the most comprehensive smoking ban in the state," said Dr. John Crawford, who introduced the ban. "It can be a model for other communities."

Crawford said he will also lobby for a state-wide ban, similar to the one in Ohio.

"This is the right thing to do," Crawford said. "The city council debated it and did the right thing, which is not easy to do when you get a lot of opposition, so I'm proud of the council."

Six amendments were added to the new smoking ordinance last week. Many were changes in wording to make the ordinance more clear, but one amendment changed the number of feet a person could smoke outside of a government building. Originally, smokers had to be 200 feet from a government building, but Tim Pape amended it to just 20 feet.

As the ordinance reads now, smokers can only light up in their own homes, cars, outside, in a hotel room for smokers, or in a nursing home room for smokers, and tobacco shops. Smokers will not be allowed be smoke within 200 feet of a hospital unless they are in a private residence.

"I don't like to go to places with smoking, and I like it that I can go to those places and they won't be filled with smoke and I can enjoy it more," Sherry Botteron said.

The ban takes effect June 1st. The fire department, health department, and police department would enforce the ordinance.

[Al Quandt]

ALL HAIL TOM DIDIER

[WBOB]

Tom Didier, apparently knows his constituency better
than his fellow councilmembers.

Just one more notch of personal freedom taken away.

Next feature: Weigh-in scales at your local restaurant
to determine how many calories your allowed to intake.

thanks FW City Council. Another ignore the voters wishes
because we know whats best for you.

FYI! not a smoker.

When's the next city council election?

Nelson Peters, Matt Kelty,.....are you paying attention here?

[Silencio]

No suppression of individual rights exists here, and its not analogous to a restaurant telling you how many calories you can eat. Nobody says you can't smoke. Smoke your brains out. Smoke till it kills you. Smoke and pay huge taxes on your poison.

You just can't do it in public. Just like you can't have sex in public.

That said, I agree that in the case opf eating and drinking joints, this should be an issue where consumer are allowed to vote with their feet... bar and restaurant owners should be able to say, "you can't smoke in here" or "you can smoke in here" and deal with public opinion. For example's, Willie's Restaurant on St. Joe Center Road called itself a private club for a couple years so patrons could smoke. The air was blue in that joint. They recently changed to a non-smoking policy. If the establishment in question was The A&O Sweet Shop, I would expect a different outcome.

That's how it supposed to work.

[bassjones]

How about an actual vote by the citizens?

[=^-..-^=]

"This is now the most comprehensive smoking ban in the state," said Dr. John Crawford, who introduced the ban. "It can be a model for other communities."


SIEG HEIL!

Ve are chust doingk thees for your own saftee. Today ve shall rule ze Fort, Tomorrow, ze entire vorld! Ve are Unstoppable een our meeshun!


Yeah, good luck enforcing that. You can't even keep underage kids outa bars; and now you're trying to keep cigarettes out?

[sevesd93]

There is no way this is going to work, I am not even going to worry about it. They have pissed Veterans off now, this sh*t will be squashed in no time.

[cwallace]

Mangus says that is has strong legal standing and will be HARD to beat in court...

Piere's is making a stand and will sue...then they will ignore it...then they will get fined...then they will not allow smoking...

I guess it is time everyone quits...

Chris

[bassjones]

I don't even smoke - other than sneaking an occasional cigarette during a gig - and this pisses me off. I seriously think we should get about 400 people to go light up at the next council meeting. Blow it right at John.

[G Fresh]

I don't even smoke - other than sneaking an occasional cigarette during a gig - and this pisses me off. I seriously think we should get about 400 people to go light up at the next council meeting. Blow it right at John.

That's a new kind of protest. A smoke-in. I like it.

[Morphine Child]

"I believe in non-smoking in public buildings, but this is infringing on my right to go where I want to go," Dan Wyles said. "What I do and where I go is up to me. If you're over 21, it's your choice."

This ban doesn't stop this dude from going where he wants to go. He can go where ever the hell he wants...he just has to stand outside and smoke.

Seriously: I was in NYC, people stood outside and smoked. I didn't hear a single complaint. Same thing in Syracuse NY. Same thing in Bloomington. Same thing in areas of Cincinnati. It's not like this is the first place this has ever happened, and it won't be the last.

Again, I don't smoke, and ban or no ban I would be fine. Sure I'm somewhat happy that it's being banned, but I'm not vehemently for it. But it doesn't stop anyone from going anywhere. jeez.

[WBOB]

How about an actual vote by the citizens?

Curious to see what results would have come for or against
in a referendum vote.

[Oliver's Army]

For the sake of the point, lets just assume a few things....

A. The majority of the people over 21 don't smoke.
B. The health of the public is going to be an on-going concern and it is not going away.
C. Smokers will eventually be forced to make choices, either with their money, their feet or their smoking.
D. Most establishments will not make accommodations for smokers that involve spending money.
E. The fact that smoking is the only social habit that intrudes into another's space.

Being a smoker myself I understand both sides of this argument.

Now, using the guidelines above, offer up viable solutions to keep both sides happy.

What is the compromise?

In other non-smoking cities, I have seen places erect outdoor smokers lounges with HVAC, seating and tenting.

These cost money.

Other ideas?

[bassjones]

For one, VFW/American Legion Halls, along with private clubs should definitely be exempt.

I actually supported the original law requiring separate enclosed smoking areas. I think that was a great compromise.

This is horse apples.

[The_Dude]

Look on the bright side...you can still smoke in the nursing home if you have a smoker's room! At least they're not trying to f*ck up my game!