Mtgy. Councilmen Hold Forum on Proposed No-Smoking Ordinance
Montgomery could soon be a smoke-free city. That’s if a proposed no-smoking ordinance is approved by city councilmen.
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People have very strong feelings about this, so city leaders held a public forum today where citizens could voice their opinion.
Some Montgomery residents no longer want smoking in the city’s restaurants or bars. And city councilmen are considering a proposal that would ban smoking in those places. Resident Loretta Bacon says she has a heart condition, which is made worse when she’s around smoke.
“I was at a restaurant and we walked in and ordered and didn’t realize that there was another part of the restaurant that actually allowed smoking and it really ruined our dinner because we could smell smoke, even though it was in another room.”
Health care professionals from the American Heart Association, Baptist South and Jackson Hospital and other non-profit organizations came to Monday’s meeting to explain the dangers of second hand smoke and to push for a no-smoking ordinance. But the room was also filled with plenty of people who oppose the ordinance, like Jerry Cook, who owns The Shack Bar and Grill.
“Most of our customers at The Shack all smoke, just about all of them,” he says. “The ones who don’t smoke, they don’t have to go there. Like the gentleman said earlier, they have choices.”
Several restaurant and bar owners told councilmen that adopting a no-smoking ordinance would kill their businesses. And smokers came out to voice their displeasure with the proposal.
“The laws that are in place now work fine to segregate smokers from non smokers,” says electronic cigarette smoker Steve Dodd.
But not everyone believes the ordinance would hurt businesses.
“I think once their customers realize they can’t go out in public to smoke and they still need a drink, they’re going to go out to bars,” says Cheryl Peele.
Councilmen are expected to meet within the next three weeks to further discuss the ordinance.  They don’t plan on taking a vote until they feel the proposed changes are “fair” for both smokers and non smokers.
Councilmen are working to make cigar Bars exempt from this ordinance.
