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Clearing the smoke
Suburban Journals
7/7/2009
Six hours of hearings at City Hall last week over a bill banning smoking in almost all public places were some of the most contentious and long-winded in years.
But in some ways, the debate came down to a brief exchange during the hearings by the Board of Aldermen's Health and Human Services Committee.
"You don't care that they go out of business?" said Alderman Stephen Conway, D-8th Ward, referring to bars he thought a ban might hurt.
"You don't care that they die?" said Bob Johnson of the antismoking group Smoke Free St. Louis.
So it went as dozens spoke for and against the bill sponsored by Central West End Alderwoman Lyda Krewson, D-28th Ward, in hearings June 30 and July 1.
The hearings continue at 1 p.m. July 9 in Room 208 of City Hall. If the committee approves it, the bill goes to the Board of Aldermen.
The measure would go into effect when the county passes a similar bill. That would prevent those who smoke from going to county establishments where smoking is allowed.
"If we pass this bill here, St. Louis County will come right behind us," Mayor Francis Slay told the health and human services committee last week.
Not so fast, said Mac Scott, a spokesman for St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley.
"The county executive believes that we need a statewide smoking ban," Scott said. Even if the city bill is passed, Dooley wouldn't consider a countywide ban.
Proponents of the smoking ban include a number of health groups and city residents. Opponents include business groups, restaurants and taverns that claim the bill could hurt their businesses by driving away customers who smoke.
The bill bans smoking in public areas, except outdoor employment areas, private clubs without workers, tobacco stores and 20 percent of hotel and motel rooms.
Originally, it prohibited casino smoking. But in a change bitterly fought by opponents, Krewson revised it to allow smoking on casino floors.
Slay told committee members the bill is meant to create a level playing field between casinos in the region. Casinos don't mind being smoke-free if other casinos in the region are smoke-free, he said.
Slay said it would be regressive not to follow the many cities and states that have approved similar laws.
"If we pass this bill here, St. Louis County will come right behind us," Slay said. "This environmentally friendly progressive measure will help the future of St. Louis."
Alderman Kenneth Ortmann, D-9th Ward, was among the opponents who spoke. His wife and daughter own the Cat's Meow, a bar at 2600 S. 11th St.
"Could this put us out of business? Yes, it could." said Ortmann, who estimated 75 percent of his customers smoke. "Most of the people we hire are customers first, and, yes, they know that it's a smoking establishment."
Bill Hannegan, of the group Keep St. Louis Free, said three economists contend the ban will harm St. Louis. He criticized the casino floor exception.
Sarah Shelton, a researcher for Washington University's Center for Tobacco Policy Research, asked for a bill with no exceptions. "The science about secondhand smoke is clear," she said.
Shannon Woodcock testified that in the past she worked for restaurants and bars where people smoked. Now pregnant, she said she's glad she doesn't have to do that any more. She said she would leave work with a bad feeling in her chest.
"I don't think it's right to assume that people have choices to work somewhere else," she said.
But Conway said, "There are jobs out there. It depends on what you want to do."
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