TERRE HAUTE —
Smoking is being steadily snuffed out in public places across the United States and Vigo County is one of the latest battle fields as minority smokers – about one-fifth of the population – try to hold on to the few remaining places they can legally light up.
The Vigo County Commissioners listened to nearly 90 minutes of public comments Tuesday night as supporters and opponents of expanding Terre Haute’s comprehensive smoking ordinance to the whole county aired their concerns.
More than 30 people addressed the three commissioners, who will vote Tuesday “yes” or “no” on an ordinance that would mirror the city’s new anti-smoking restrictions to all of the county. On July 1, the city’s ordinance, passed last year, will effectively prohibit smoking in all enclosed workplaces except tobacco shops and a small number of hotel or motel rooms.
Commissioner Judy Anderson, speaking after the public meeting, said she will vote to extend the city’s ordinance to all of Vigo County.
“The city absolutely did the right thing” in passing its ordinance in January 2011, Anderson said. She, along with Commissioner Paul Mason, voted in 2006 for the county’s current smoking ordinance, which prohibited smoking in most public places, with the exception of bars until July 2012, separately-ventilated rooms in restaurants and private clubs.
Commissioner Mike Ciolli, speaking after the meeting, said he was not yet prepared to say how he will vote next week, wishing first to consult with his fellow commissioners. Ciolli noted that he has always understood that the county’s 2006 ordinance was written to prohibit smoking in Vigo County bars beginning July 1 of this year.
Mason, speaking after the meeting, also said he was not yet prepared to state how he will vote next week.
Many representatives of Terre Haute and Vigo County bars spoke to the commissioners Tuesday night, urging the city’s ordinance be overturned and the county continue to allow smoking in bars after July 1.
“I will have to close my bar,” said Kenny Lamb, owner of one of the county’s oldest taverns in West Terre Haute. When he left to attend the public hearing, 15 of his 17 customers were smoking, he said.
Members of patriotic and fraternal clubs, such as Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legions, also attended the meeting and called for smoking to remain permitted in their establishments. Many stated that they fought in wars for the right of Americans to make choices, such as to join a club that permits smoking.
“If they smoke in there and you don’t want to be around it, stay home,” said Darrel Night of VFW Post 972, speaking before the packed meeting room in the Vigo County Annex.
But even more supporters of Terre Haute’s new ordinance spoke Tuesday night, including representatives of the Vigo County Health Department, the American Lung Association, the American Cancer Society, Chances for Indiana Youth and Union Hospital.
“Everyone deserves to work in a safe and smoke-free environment,” said Alia Hazel, tobacco prevention and cessation program director for CHANCES for Indiana Youth in Vigo County.
Smoke-free ordinances “do not harm businesses,” said Lindsay Grace of the American Lung Association. However, “this isn’t about business. This is about health,” she said.
Since 2000, more than half the states have passed comprehensive smoking laws, banning smoking in restaurants, bars and worksites. Until 2002, no states had such wide-ranging restrictions in place.
Smoking in public places has been increasingly restricted as fewer Americans light up. Over the past four decades, the percentage of Americans smoking has declined from about 40 percent in the 1970s to about 20 percent in 2010, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Reporter Arthur Foulkes can be reached at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.
News
Related Photos
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Listening: County Commissioners Judy Anderson and Paul Mason listen to testimony during Tuesday's meeting at the County Annex.
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Tax stamp: West Terre Haute resident Kenny Lamb holds a tax stamp from 1929 as he makes his case for smoking during Tuesday's meeting.
Discussion
Smoking ordinance has public fired up
Vigo Commissioners listen ahead of vote
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