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Casper City Council reviews proposed smoking ban 

GOLDEN AGE OF STOGIES 

BAILEY: Bettering the health of the community 

Those in opposition to a smokefree ordinance have finally been on the offensive. After almost two years, they’ve realized that Smokefree Natrona County is serious and that the citizens of Casper widely support the elimination of secondhand smoke in all indoor work and public places. Majority support has been proven by polling the county, with citizens reacting to this grave danger to their health. The opposition’s testimony consists of hearsay and speculation, hardly a basis for continuing the status quo, putting the whole community’s health at risk.

And yet that’s exactly what they’re doing. The opposition has a vested interest in talking-up so-called business owners’ rights.

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Smoking, drinking by teens decreases  

Smoking ban opposition to present case to Casper City Council 

• Casper Journal poll shows most support smoking ban 

By a nearly three-to-one margin, Casper residents support some kind of smoking ban for bars, restaurants and other public places, according to a poll taken March 8 by the Casper Journal.

In a telephone survey of 50 local businesses and residences, 38 people (or 76 percent) said they would be in favor of an ordinance prohibiting smoking in public places, while 12 people (or 24 percent) said they opposed any ordinance.

“I just moved back from Oregon,” said one respondent, “and it’s no smoking there, and I think it’s great.”

Another supporter said she had lost a spouse to lung cancer, and while personally in favor of no smoking, she also wouldn’t want to impose it on anyone. A few of those supporting an ordinance also qualified their answers, saying it shouldn’t include outdoor areas.

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Casper City Council vows to fully examine smoking ban and conference center options 

Casper City Council members have agreed to move ahead slowly with two controversial issues facing them.

Council members and citizens at this week’s regular meeting requested a slow and comprehensive process for two major decisions expected in the coming months.

Pro- and anti-smoking ban advocates again addressed the council during the public comment period, requesting a fair amount of time to review the ordinance and offer arguments.

The council is scheduled to review the initial smoking ordinance at a work session March 27. Mayor Kenyne Schlager said it will likely take time for the council to debate its details, which are far from decided.

“I think people are making a lot of assumptions about what council’s going to do and what’s in the ordinance,” she said during the council session. “And I want everybody to know that the ordinance isn’t complete.” . . .

Councilman Paul Bertoglio said the debate was taking the same course it did in 2000 when the city enacted a smoking ban that was later overturned by voter referendum. He has repeatedly suggested the council plan for at least two special hearings to give everyone enough time to speak.

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Casper smoking debate still smolders 

City Council schedules a smoking-ban debate, opponents of the ban filled council chambers Tuesday evening to voice their opinions.

During a work session earlier this month, council members heard a presentation from SmokeFree Natrona County and decided to draft legislation to implement a ban on smoking in public places and businesses. The ordinance will be debated by four representatives of each side of the issue prior to a public hearing and the three required readings of the proposed ordinance.

Eleven people spoke against the smoking ban and one offered support Tuesday. Those opposed focused on the ability of business owners and individuals to make their own choices and expressed concern about a smoking ban’s effect on the local economy.

“We’re opposed to a smoking ban,” Casper resident Ryan Stepp told the council. “It’s my belief that this would cause a grave impact on private, free enterprise.”

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Smoking ordinance possible in Casper 

The Casper City Council last week approved drafting a proposed anti-smoking ordinance that would prohibit smoking in bars, restaurants and other public buildings.

This isn’t the first time the community has grappled with the issue (a ballot initiative failed 11 years ago), but in a straw poll at a work session, the council narrowly agreed to consider the matter again.

While the exact scope of the ordinance hasn’t been established, the proposal will likely be influenced by a measure put forward by Smoke Free Wyoming to prohibit smoking in all businesses, and even some outside areas. Mayor Kenyne Schlager asked the city staff to draft an ordinance, though, without setting a timeline for its completion and no date has been set for its consideration.

Smoke Free Wyoming, a non-profit anti-smoking group, has had limited success in persuading the legislature, or state and local health departments, to take up the ban, and over the past year has been seeking action by the council.

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Casper City Council gathers information for public smoking ban 

The Casper City Council will take a closer look at a possible public smoking ban during a work session Monday.

A presentation by SmokeFree Natrona County is the first item on the agenda and will recommend the council prohibit smoking in public places. Council members will examine an ordinance passed in March 2000 that was later repealed, although no public participation or formal action regarding a smoking ban will happen until a regular council meeting.

“This is really an information-gathering session for the City Council,” said Rachel Bailey, spokeswoman for SmokeFree Natrona County.

She said the organization’s presentation Monday will encourage the council to go beyond the previous ordinance’s limited smoking areas to protect nonsmokers and workers in Natrona County.

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Stockman's Bar and Grill goes smoke-free in bar 

Stockman's Bar and Grill instituted a smoke-free policy in its bar area starting on Feb. 1.

"It was time to create a healthier environment for our customers, both current and in the future," Stockman's representative Barbara Walker said.

Walker also said there is a niche market in Pinedale for a smoke-free environment.

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WENINO:Where does 'right' to smoke end? 

The “Smoke Free” initiative has stirred strong emotions on both sides of the issue. I’m passionately anti-smoking. I do understand the resistance to government intrusion into private business but in this case I think the aversion is misplaced. Most people are in favor of government-imposed fire safety regulations for theaters as well as health safety regulations for food service. . . .

So where does a person’s “right” to smoke end? How can otherwise good, caring people behave so selfishly and inconsiderately as to subject their family and friends to harmful cigarette smoke? How can otherwise reasonable and intelligent people think that they have the “right” to foul the air that other people breathe?

If people who smoke would be honest with themselves, they would stop calling smoking their “right” and start calling it what it actually is ... it’s their addiction. And then they would realize that no person or business is under any obligation to accommodate their addiction.

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LETTER: Smokefree laws protect youth 

My grandfather died when I was 11 due to smoking-related lung cancer. I was devastated. Yet, just a little more than a year later, my desire to be accepted by my teenage peer group led me to begin my relationship with cigarettes. Over time I became addicted to nicotine and smoking three packs a day.

I became pregnant when I was 23 and my OBGYN advised me not to quit "cold turkey," as I would put the baby in shock, so I began a slow cessation. But because of my addiction, I couldn't entirely quit which I justified, rationalized, and threw in the face of people who gave me looks of sadness or disappointment. As soon as I gave birth, I was quickly back to two or more packs a day. . . .

Knowing that the majority of tobacco users smoke their first cigarette before the age of 18 and that Wyoming has one of the highest rate of youth smoking in the nation at 22 percent; I feel we owe it to the next generation to protect their health. . . .

To me, this is not an issue of business owner or patron's rights, it is a matter of protecting our most valuable resource; the next generation, from the pitfalls of tobacco. I support Smokefree Natrona County's efforts to protect the health of our community, me, and most importantly, my daughter.

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Casper to consider smoking ban 

The Casper City Council last week voted to open up the debate on whether there should be a smoking ban in bars, restaurants and other businesses.

While the exact scope of the ban hasn’t yet been established, one proposal will likely be a measure put forward by Smoke Free Wyoming that would prohibit smoking in all businesses.

“I believe we have the non-smoking group coming February 13,” said Mayor Kenyne Schlager. “At that point, I think we would have to do some options, so we can take a look at what might be the avenue you want to research.”

Council member Paul Bertoglio remarked the council might consider using a previous proposed ban as a starting point.

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Casper City Council gauges support for public smoking ban 

The Casper City Council will determine today whether there is enough support among members to propose a public smoking ban.

Mayor Kenyne Schlager said she scheduled the discussion to poll council opinions.

“I want to make sure I’m not the only person that is interested in hearing the presentation,” she said. “If I’m the only one, I would take it off the agenda.”

Schlager said the discussion about creating an ordinance is tentatively scheduled for a Feb. 13 work session.

No ordinance has been prepared yet and details would be discussed in February.

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