Smoke-Free Indy Wants Tougher Ordinance

(posted Dec 10)

Smoke-Free Indy is pushing to close loop holes in the current ordinance to have a comprehensive smoke free environment for all Indianapolis workers. Smoke Free Indy representatives Bruce Hetrick, Mickey Mauer and Sam Denton made a presentation at the Community Affairs Committee of the City County Council to review the "flawed ordinance" that took effect on March 1, 2006.

Hetrick told the committee at its Dec 3 meeting that the "watered down" ordinance is filled with deadly loopholes that fail to protect all workers. Some of the exemptions include bars, restaurants that don't serve the public under 21, private clubs and bowling alleys.

He explained the ordinance fails to protect workers that are the least likely to have access to adequate health coverage. Smoke-Free Indy would like to see smoke free environments for all enclosed work places.

Denton said that a worker exposed for two hours to second hand smoke is equivalent to smoking four cigarettes. "Smoke knows no bounds, so room separation is not a remedy."

Denton said studies also show that ventilation and air cleaning systems are ineffective in removing pollutants from the air. Denton said exposure to second hand smoke has an immediate impact on the cardiovascular system.

Hetrick explained that Ohio and Illinois are smoke free. "Indianapolis cannot afford to fall behind other world class US cities." Hetrick said the city should not follow these states when it is developing a reputation for health care and life sciences. Indianapolis needs to be like the rest of the world with a comprehensive smoke free ordinance.

Hetrick's presentation illustrated the ironies of not having a comprehensive smoking ban. He said he watched smoking ban legislation die, and yet people "bemoan the double digit price increases of health insurance."

Mauer, a former Indiana Secretary of Commerce, said that higher health care costs have caused Indiana to lose job creation "because we smoke more, we have higher incidents of cancer." Indianapolis has less protection for workers in terms of smoke free places for bars and bowling alleys. Mauer said the world has "leaped frogged over Indianapolis right now" with more smoke free comprehensive ordinances. He insisted on closing the current ordinance's loopholes. He thinks the city has an obligation to protect all of its citizens from occupational secondhand smoke. "A world class city takes care of all of its citizens. I urge you to think about that."

Community Affairs Chairman Kent Smith said that a town hall meeting is probably needed to discuss the issue.

Councilor Christine Scales asked about Smoke Free Indy's plans since their presentation did not include an ordinance proposal. Denton said the purpose of the meeting was to ask the committee to review "the flawed ordinance." Smoke Free Indy plans to have an ordinance on the table by January that will eliminate the current exemptions. He said the city’s adoption would be a critical step to push for state legislation to ban secondhand smoke in the workplace.