| By OnMilwaukee.com Staff Writers |
| Published Jan. 19, 2006 at 4:28 p.m. |
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Scheduled for Thursday, March 2, at 9 a.m., the first public hearing for Milwaukee citizens to voice their opinions about an ordinance that would prohibit smoking in all public places, has created a citywide energy to enact smoke-free policies. The hearing will take place at City Hall and the Public Safety Committee will gather citizen input before voting on the smoke-free ordinance at the close of the hearing.
Local governments in Wisconsin have already enacted 24 smoke-free ordinances and 2,129 municipalities in the U.S. have local laws in effect that restrict where smoking is allowed. Major metropolitan areas including Chicago, New York City, Washington D.C., Boston, Miami, Minneapolis and Dallas have already passed smoke-free laws, and many more are in progress.
"We have worked diligently over several years to educate the Milwaukee community about the harmful and deadly effects of second-hand smoke," says Dr. Patricia McManus, spokesperson for the Smoke Free Milwaukee Project (SFMP) and the executive director of the Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin. "Of course, the health of our communities is our first priority. Now that the hearing has been scheduled, this will be a good chance for our public officials to hear how much of a priority it is for their constituents, as well."
To date, SFMP continues to receive support from various organizations whose data also show the need for a smoke-free policy in Milwaukee. Major supporters include The American Cancer Society, The American Lung Association of Wisconsin, The American Heart Association and Smoke Free Wisconsin.
The Smoke Free Milwaukee Project is an initiative of the Wisconsin Ethnic Network Collaborative (WENC).
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Recent Talkbacks ...
Posted by OMCreader on Feb. 24, 2006 at 8:13 p.m. (report)
DFT said: If you read the article posted by someone below concerning the problems with the Madison area bars, the ones having the financial problems are those at the towns border where a smoker can just opt to go across the street, be outside the legal smoking ban area and sit in the other bar smoking instead. Even though I'm all for a smoking ban, I can understand that being a problem to any bar near a border where other bars aren't equally effected. It'd make more sense then to pass a state-wide smoking ban as then all WI bars would be equal with the exception of those near the state line of coarse. Those who frequent bars will still go to their bars even if they have to step outside for an occasional smoke. People won't stay home just because they can't smoke inside the bar that they normally go to. The act of smoking in itself doesn't really make that bar experience worthy vs not. Let's face it, people go to bars to socialize and/or drink, not just to smoke.
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Posted by OMCreader on Feb. 23, 2006 at 9:57 p.m. (report)
Good for biz said: No decline in total restaurant or bar revenues occurred in El Paso, Texas, after the city's smoking ban was implemented on January 2, 2002. These findings are consistent with the results of studies in other municipalities that determined smoke-free indoor air ordinances had no effect on restaurant revenues. Despite claims that these laws especially might reduce alcoholic beverage revenues, the mixed-beverage revenue analyses indicate that sales of alcoholic beverages were not affected by the El Paso smoking ban.
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Posted by OMCreader on Feb. 13, 2006 at 9:12 a.m. (report)
longveu said: The way I see it, I can't wait for the day when I look back on smoking in bars and restaurants the way I now look back at smoking on airplanes and in the workplace.
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Posted by OMCreader on Feb. 9, 2006 at 6:39 p.m. (report)
Jason said: Read this. There are studies that contradict what everyone believes http://www.fumento.com/disease/smoking.html
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Posted by OMCreader on Feb. 9, 2006 at 5:10 p.m. (report)
mkelvr said: I agree that smoking is bad for you and no, except for the occasional cigar have not smoked. I did not really get the appeal of cigarettes! But I do think the dangers of secondhand smoke as the new demon are highly exageratted and we are heading towards a new prohibition of a legal product. It will really not affect me personally, but I do not like any freedoms or rights being taken away without just cause. The risks of secondhandsmoke, based on what I have read, seem greatly hyped to push through an agenda to ban smoking. two weeks ago at Long wongs on bluemound road, I saw an older guy (easily in his 70's) sitting there having a drink and a cigarette at happy hour while talking to the regular patrons. He lived nearby and apparently walks over regularly and probably would not if there was a blanket indoor smoking ban. Thats probably one of the few activities he has. Unless there is incredibly good reason (which I am questioning), why should an old man be huddled outside freezing?
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