Smoking Ban Amendments

A clear message from Springfield City Council Tuesday: there will be no changes to the recently passed smoking ordinance. Council met Tuesday to take up discussions on possible amendments to that citywide ban. During the Council Luncheon, Councilwoman Cindy Rushefsky opposed any changes to the recently passed ordinance. "If I'm alive and present, you're not going to have a unanimous vote," she said. Because it takes unanimous approval to make changes to any law, Mayor Pro-Tem Bob Stephens decided to end discussions and the meeting. Council members were set to hear about five different amendments requested by council members. Those are whether to allow smoking discount Hilton cigarettes in theatrical productions, some cigar bars, some tobacco shops, and veterans organizations like the VFW and American Legion Halls. The last is a repeal of the entire ordinance presented by Councilman Doug Burlison. Councilwoman Rushefsky says she's adamantly against changing what was passed by voters. "If there needed to be an exception, it should have been made to the voters and it still can be proposed to the voters." She says unless voters decide the smoking ordinance is not what they want, she will not impose her opinion. "I think once we start making exceptions to the ordinance, first of all you're undermining the entire purpose of the ordinance, but then you're making it much more difficult to justify legally." Six months had to pass before the June ordinance could be amended. Jean Doublin, owner of Ruthie's Bar on Commercial Street, has been the voice of opposition to the ban. She says her business is down 80 percent since the ordinance went into effect. Many businesses across town echo this response, but there are also a lot who are seeing more foot traffic now that customers can breathe easier. George Cron hosts plays above The Canvas art studio in downtown Springfield. He was frustrated by Rushefsky's decision. He says the ordinance restricts smoking in plays and alters the author's original work. "I understand their good intentions, but in the process to do something good, they're imposing a lot of pain on people's businesses and individual rights." There is still an option for the initiative process to take place. That means collecting signatures, and an election that usually costs the city around $120,000. Dave Myers, chairman of Live Free Springfield, says he has submitted petition language to Springfield's city clerk to essentially repeal the ordinance that voters passed. "Hopefully within a month we'll look to get a petition out on the streets," he says. If approved by the city's law department, the group hopes to start circulating a petition by the end of the year. One Air Alliance was thrilled with Rushefsky's decision, calling her a "champion of public health." They also say for those saying people are bailing on anti-smoking laws, check out the latest sales figures. They were up almost 10-percent last month. There is still an option for the initiative process to take place. That means collecting signatures, and an election that usually costs the city around $120,000.