Issue: Smokefree Ordiances Commentary
Listen to the commentary: CHOKE-FREE TC?
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I produced an audio commentary for Radio Anyway this weekend. The subject, Smokefree Ordinances, and their place in bars and restaurants. You may have 
recently heard that the Grand Traverse County Commission voted down a proposal which would have banned smoking in area workplaces—for the time being bars and restaurants are exempt from local smoking bans under state law. But the Traverse City Commission has moved forward and is urging the state to allow local governments to include bars and restaurants. (Click here to read a draft of the TC Letter to area State Senators PDF)
There has been a debate playing out in the local editorial papers, and amongst many on the street. The idea seems repulsive to some, and to others, well, it just makes sense. Smokefree ordinances in Traverse City may be a long ways away, but other cities, states and, in some cases, entire nations like Ireland, France and the SAR Hong Kong, all smoking meccas, are enacting them.
Click here for a list of restaurants that have already gone Smokefree in Michigan.
NOTE: Producing this piece was difficult. There was a lot I could have added, and somethings I wish I would have stated a little differently, but the commentary was a result of several conversations and interviews, and a lot of reading up on the subject of secondhand smoke and, as you will hear, a little philosophy.
Hi Gary,
Thanks for doing this piece on second hand smoke. Many good points and short enough, so as to not lose casual listeners.
I don’t think smokers, or anyone using pollutants which can poison other living things has a right to be selfish, selfcentered. I don’t think they should be able to smoke on the sidewalk in front of the bar/restaurant either! Imagine the poor neighbors who must breathe all that smoke!
My doctor said my Cancer in1995 was directly related to second hand smoke exposure in my workplace. I am totally disabled now.
Comment by Katherine — March 19, 2007 @ 12:26 pm
Excellent reporting. Of course, I agree with your viewpoint, although I am not a libertarian. Good job.
Comment by Lisa Danto — March 20, 2007 @ 2:55 pm
Nice job! It was great when NYC and then NJ went smoke-free. Nice to be able to come home from the bar without smelling like an ashtray.
Comment by Kevin — March 21, 2007 @ 10:10 am
This came across my email:
ALERT–Action Needed!
In case you don’t know, the Senate passed a bill last night eliminating
almost all of the Healthy Michigan Fund, including the Tobacco Program, for
the remainder of this fiscal year. The budget bill will now go to the House
for its consideration. It is important that key Republican Senators hear
from us today as we convey our deep disappointment in their actions. The
message is, “shame on you for cutting critical services. We need to
increase state revenues.”
Please contact the following Senators today (by noon if possible):
Senator Bishop 517-373-2417; senmbishop@senate.michigan.gov
Senator Cassis 517-373-1758; senncassis@senate.michigan.gov
Senator Cropsey 517-373-3760; ofcacropsey@senate.michigan.gov
Senator Gilbert 517-373-7708; senjgilbert@senate.michigan.gov
Senator Richardville 517-373-3543; senrrichardville@senate.michigan.gov
Also, please contact the following House leaders with the message, “we need
increased revenues, not more cuts, to balance the budget.”
Rep. Dillon 517-373-0857; andydillon@house.mi.gov
Rep. Sak 517-373-0822; representativesak@house.mi.gov
Rep. DeRoche 517-373-0827; craigderoche@house.mi.gov
Rep. Ward 517-373-1784; chrisward@house.mi.gov
Also, please thank the Governor and Bob Emerson for not cutting the Healthy
Michigan Fund in the Executive Order.
Governor: http://www.michigan.gov/gov/0,1607,7-168-21995-65331–,00.html
Bob Emerson: EmersonB@michigan.gov
And for those willing to do a little more, please thank the following
Senators for their support of the Healthy Michigan Fund in their floor
speeches last night…
Senator Schauer http://www.senate.michigan.gov/schauer/feedback.htm
Senator Cherry sendcherry@senate.michigan.gov
Senator Brater senlbrater@senate.michigan.gov
Quick action and response to what happened yesterday is very important.
Please act today and share with your network.
Thank you for your ongoing help with this!
Karen
Karen Holcomb-Merrill
Policy Consultant
Tobacco-Free Michigan
Comment by gary — March 23, 2007 @ 11:53 am