Health News
After a six months of public debate, private wrangling and at least one serious local editorial page flaying, the Hopkinsville City Council narrowly passed a citywide smoking ban Tuesday night. The original ordinance that came before the council at its meeting was more of a smoking regulation than a ban because it required businesses to decide whether they would allow smoking at their establishments, and post that publicly. But once the ordinance came up for discussion, reports Carla Jimenez of the Kentucky New Era, council members opted for an all-or-nothing vote. ?If we?re really, truly concerned about the health of people, then it should be everybody,? said Ward 8 Councilwoman Marby Schlegel. The exemptions to a full smoking ban vote were then removed. That vote resulted in a 6-6 tie, which was broken by Mayor Dan Kemp.
?It?s progress,? Kemp told Jimenez after the meeting. He said Hopkinsville now has a smoke-free ordinance similar to Owensboro, Bowling Green, Madisonville, Henderson, Oak Grove and Paducah. Ward 4 Councilman Ward Henson disagreed. "I think we took away rights from private business owners, which is something I totally disagree with, but I?m just glad to see the smoking thing out of the way.? The ordinance still has to pass on second reading before it becomes law. (Read more)
The excoriating editorial (see above) can be read here.
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Liberty city council members voted 5-1 to repeal a city-wide smoking ban in public buildings that was passed narrowly in November. The law was to go into effect Jan. 1, Larry Rowell reports for The Casey County News. The ban had passed in November...
- Owensboro Commissioners Drop Pre-existing Bars From Draft Of Smoking-ban Ordinance
The Owensboro City Commission compromised to gain the support of all five members to vote for a smoking ban, which will come up for a vote on Sept. 2, Steve Vied reports for the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer. The original draft of the ordinance eliminated...
- Leaders In Mayfield, A Town With A Rich Tobacco Heritage, Approve Smoking Ban
UPDATE, July 9: The ban passed 5-4 on second reading. It will take effect in 2014 and "excludes spaces used primarily for sleeping such as hotels, hospices or nursing homes, rooms designated for social functions and separate smoke-proof enclosures with...
- Williamsburg In Line To Pass Smoking Ban Next Month
An ordinance imposing a smoking ban in Williamsburg is ready for a City Council vote. The council listened Monday to the first reading of the ordinance, required before a vote, which could follow the second reading, planned for Feb. 11. If approved,...
- 'cigarette 6' Smoked By Hopkinsville Paper's Editorial
First came the Jackson Five, then the Chicago Seven. Now, straight from Hopkinsville's city council, come the Cigarette Six. So dubbed by the editorial board of the Kentucky New Era, the Six were met with by a incredulous headline on an editorial...
Health News
Hopkinsville mayor breaks tie to pass citywide smoking ban
After a six months of public debate, private wrangling and at least one serious local editorial page flaying, the Hopkinsville City Council narrowly passed a citywide smoking ban Tuesday night. The original ordinance that came before the council at its meeting was more of a smoking regulation than a ban because it required businesses to decide whether they would allow smoking at their establishments, and post that publicly. But once the ordinance came up for discussion, reports Carla Jimenez of the Kentucky New Era, council members opted for an all-or-nothing vote. ?If we?re really, truly concerned about the health of people, then it should be everybody,? said Ward 8 Councilwoman Marby Schlegel. The exemptions to a full smoking ban vote were then removed. That vote resulted in a 6-6 tie, which was broken by Mayor Dan Kemp.
?It?s progress,? Kemp told Jimenez after the meeting. He said Hopkinsville now has a smoke-free ordinance similar to Owensboro, Bowling Green, Madisonville, Henderson, Oak Grove and Paducah. Ward 4 Councilman Ward Henson disagreed. "I think we took away rights from private business owners, which is something I totally disagree with, but I?m just glad to see the smoking thing out of the way.? The ordinance still has to pass on second reading before it becomes law. (Read more)
The excoriating editorial (see above) can be read here.
- Liberty City Council Rescinds Smoking Ban That Had Passed With Mayor's Tie-breaking Vote Weeks Earlier
Liberty city council members voted 5-1 to repeal a city-wide smoking ban in public buildings that was passed narrowly in November. The law was to go into effect Jan. 1, Larry Rowell reports for The Casey County News. The ban had passed in November...
- Owensboro Commissioners Drop Pre-existing Bars From Draft Of Smoking-ban Ordinance
The Owensboro City Commission compromised to gain the support of all five members to vote for a smoking ban, which will come up for a vote on Sept. 2, Steve Vied reports for the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer. The original draft of the ordinance eliminated...
- Leaders In Mayfield, A Town With A Rich Tobacco Heritage, Approve Smoking Ban
UPDATE, July 9: The ban passed 5-4 on second reading. It will take effect in 2014 and "excludes spaces used primarily for sleeping such as hotels, hospices or nursing homes, rooms designated for social functions and separate smoke-proof enclosures with...
- Williamsburg In Line To Pass Smoking Ban Next Month
An ordinance imposing a smoking ban in Williamsburg is ready for a City Council vote. The council listened Monday to the first reading of the ordinance, required before a vote, which could follow the second reading, planned for Feb. 11. If approved,...
- 'cigarette 6' Smoked By Hopkinsville Paper's Editorial
First came the Jackson Five, then the Chicago Seven. Now, straight from Hopkinsville's city council, come the Cigarette Six. So dubbed by the editorial board of the Kentucky New Era, the Six were met with by a incredulous headline on an editorial...