Last night the Carbondale City Council approved an ordinance that will make Carbondale a smoke-free city in 2008!!!
Carbondale's smoke-free ordinance will require all restaurants to become smoke-free by January 2008, with all bars following suit by July 2008. The ordinance will also require that smokers remain at least 5 feet from the entrance to any public building. The only establishments the council chose to exempt from the smoke-free law were fraternal organizations.
While Carbondale's ordinance isn't as comprehensive as many others in the state, it is most definitely a step in the right direction to improving public health. Councilwoman Sheila Simon expressed this same sentiment:
"This is a start to protecting some workers"
Here is the roll call from last night's vote. Please take a moment to thank the councilmen and women who supported this life saving measure:
Mayor Cole- no
S. Simon- YES
L. Jack- YES
S. Haynes- abstain
C. Wissmann- YES
J. Fritzler- no
C. McDaniel- YES
To read the full ordinance,
please click here.
Below is the media coverage from last night's vote:
Carbondale bars and restaurants to go smoke free next year - Daily Egyptian
Carbondale city council approves ban on smoking - The Southern Illinoisan
The Smoke-Free Movement