Well, it isn't as restrictive as I feared it would be, but I still don't like the fact there are any sort of restrictions.
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Fort Worth council passes smoking restrictions
BY MIKE LEE
FORT WORTH -- Smoking will be completely banned in restaurants beginning in January, but the ordinance approved Tuesday still allows smoking in bars and bingo halls.
The 7-2 vote ended 18 months of debate on how far to extend the rules on smoking.
About 50 people signed up to speak about the ordinance, and dozens more filled the City Council chamber during the two-hour debate.
Councilman Carter Burdette, a non-smoker, gave a stem-winding speech against further restrictions, saying it constituted the tyranny of the majority over a minority.
"We may find our new motto is, 'Welcome to Fort Worth, where the West begins and freedom ends,' " he said.
Councilwoman Wendy Davis sided with public health groups, who said that the city needs to ban smoking to protect the health of restaurant and bar workers.
"I don’t feel there should be a freedom to compromise public health," Davis said.
A committee appointed by the Council spent more than a year studying the ordinance, and recommended a near-total ban, including bars. City Manager Charles Boswell overturned that recommendation, saying the city needs to allow smoking in bars, to avoid losing business to other cities.
Councilman Danny Scarth added the amendment allowing smoking in bingo halls, saying he was concerned about the effect that a smoking ban would have on the charities that rely on bingo halls.
The ordinance takes effect on Jan 1. Smoking will be illegal in most public places, including restaurants. The only exceptions will be bars, bingo halls, designated smoking rooms in hotels, outdoor patios at restaurants, sexually oriented businesses and private clubs such as fraternal organizations.
**********************
Fort Worth council passes smoking restrictions
BY MIKE LEE
FORT WORTH -- Smoking will be completely banned in restaurants beginning in January, but the ordinance approved Tuesday still allows smoking in bars and bingo halls.
The 7-2 vote ended 18 months of debate on how far to extend the rules on smoking.
About 50 people signed up to speak about the ordinance, and dozens more filled the City Council chamber during the two-hour debate.
Councilman Carter Burdette, a non-smoker, gave a stem-winding speech against further restrictions, saying it constituted the tyranny of the majority over a minority.
"We may find our new motto is, 'Welcome to Fort Worth, where the West begins and freedom ends,' " he said.
Councilwoman Wendy Davis sided with public health groups, who said that the city needs to ban smoking to protect the health of restaurant and bar workers.
"I don’t feel there should be a freedom to compromise public health," Davis said.
A committee appointed by the Council spent more than a year studying the ordinance, and recommended a near-total ban, including bars. City Manager Charles Boswell overturned that recommendation, saying the city needs to allow smoking in bars, to avoid losing business to other cities.
Councilman Danny Scarth added the amendment allowing smoking in bingo halls, saying he was concerned about the effect that a smoking ban would have on the charities that rely on bingo halls.
The ordinance takes effect on Jan 1. Smoking will be illegal in most public places, including restaurants. The only exceptions will be bars, bingo halls, designated smoking rooms in hotels, outdoor patios at restaurants, sexually oriented businesses and private clubs such as fraternal organizations.
