Starkville bans smoking in MSU houses

KNOW-wun · #1 04-02-2006, 02:20 PM

Board passes ban on smoking

Sara McAdory
March 27, 2006

Smoking will be prohibited in all indoor public places in Starkville under an ordinance passed by the Board of Aldermen Tuesday.

The ordinance, which will take effect 60 days after it is published in the Starkville Daily News, passed unanimously in a voice vote.

The ordinance prohibits smoking in restaurants, bars, lobbies of hotels, city buildings and other indoor public places. Private clubs and hotel rooms rented to guests are not subject to the restriction.

Smoking is also prohibited in some outdoor areas, including areas "immediately preceding or blocking the entrance and/or exit of an area where smoking is prohibited," attached areas of restaurants that are covered or partially covered with 50 percent or more of the perimeter walled or otherwise closed, and seating areas of outdoor sports venues, the ordinance says.

The drive to ban smoking in public places began in November when a group called Citizens for a Breathe-Free Starkville presented an ordinance banning smoking to the Board of Aldermen.

In February, the board created a committee to draft a no-smoking ordinance for Starkville. The group was made up of citizens from both sides of the issue, aldermen and a student.

"Ultimately, we came to consensus with an ordinance that we developed from scratch for the city of Starkville," Ward 5 Alderman Matt Cox said.

People wearing maroon, black and white stickers reading "Citizens for a Breathe-Free Starkville" sat at the meeting and cheered after the ordinance passed.

Some citizens spoke out against the ordinance, while others expressed concerns about specific parts of the ordinance.

Senior political science major Hunter Lipscomb expressed concern over a section in the ordinance prohibiting smoking in sorority and fraternity houses, which was stricken from the ordinance before it passed because it conflicted with another section of the ordinance.

Lipscomb said that if the ordinance applied to fraternities and sororities, it would be an open opportunity for police, who can enter establishments covered by the ordinance, to come into the houses at any time and give police an opportunity to see fraternities in a negative light.

"It's no lie, the fraternities are often stigmatized in negative ways," he said.

Another fraternity member, Joshua Andrews of Lambda Chi Alpha, asked, "Why are the fraternities not seen as a private residence?"

Ward 3 Alderman P.C. McLaurin explained that another section ordinance saying that it is subject to all other government jurisdictions rules and regulations pertaining to smoking.

Student Association attorney general Aaron Rice said he wanted students to understand the impact they can have on the community.

"Tuesday's events prove that students can involve themselves in the decision-making process and bring about changes in city policy that reflect their interest," he said.

The ordinance requires the person in charge of a building covered by the ordinance to post an at least 2-inch-by-2-inch international no-smoking symbol at the main entrance of the premises.

The business will have to pay for the sticker, Cox said. He said the stickers should cost less than $10 each.

The ordinance will stand for two years after it takes effect to allow the city a chance to evaluate its effects.

After two years, it will be automatically repealed, the ordinance says. The board can then decide whether to reinstate a ban.

Tom Earp · #2 04-02-2006, 02:25 PM

OMG, Regulating Public Morality of any kind is unkind!

Our Duly Elected Morons think they can Be The Kings/Queens of life!

That Shalt Not!

Getting to close to soilent green for My tastes!

33girl · #3 04-02-2006, 02:36 PM

I completely agree Tom.

Next up; what you can and can't eat, who you can and can't date, and what clothes you must wear.

ZZ-kai- · #4 04-02-2006, 03:07 PM

I went out last night for my buddy's bachelor party, and it was in a city that has 'banned smoking'. I must say, that was the greatest move ever. I didn't stink when I got home, I didn't have to take a shower when I got home, I could breath when I got up this morning, I didn't have sore throat...etc.

My freedom to breathe clean air is more important than your freedom to smoke in a bar. Sorry.

I hope this goes to the State level, and I hope State's begin banning smoking in public buildings, including work places, bars and restaurants.

valkyrie · #5 04-02-2006, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ZZ-kai-
My freedom to breathe clean air is more important than your freedom to smoke in a bar. Sorry.

I hope this goes to the State level, and I hope State's begin banning smoking in public buildings, including work places, bars and restaurants.

I really don't see restrictive laws such as this as promoting "freedom" in any way.

ZZ-kai- · #6 04-02-2006, 03:13 PM

Just put in smoke rooms, so all the stinky smokers can all go smell like ash trays together and work on making their teeth look British. And it's not a restricitive law when it's dealing with Public places.

sdbeta1 · #7 04-02-2006, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ZZ-kai-

I hope this goes to the State level, and I hope State's begin banning smoking in public buildings, including work places, bars and restaurants.

It's been done in California, it can be done anywhere else.

Tom Earp · #8 04-02-2006, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sdbeta1
It's been done in California, it can be done anywhere else.

As was stated above, what else is next?

CANT, CANT, CANT!

Rudey · #9 04-02-2006, 04:16 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoking_ban

-Rudey

sdbeta1 · #10 04-02-2006, 04:39 PM

I have to agree with zz-kai, I don't like the fact that I have to inhale second-hand smoke whenever I go out. I'd support a smoking ban. But I'm from California which apparently has strict anti-smoking laws.

PhoenixAzul · #11 04-02-2006, 05:28 PM

In Columbus, they have almost an identical law...it's AWESOME to go bowling and not stink, or go to a concert and not get burned by cigarettes. It is really cool. Really, its not that you CANT smoke EVER...it means that you may have to get up and walk 20 ft outside to smoke...oh you poor dears, that's so stressful.

In the Republic of Ireland, there is a ban on smoking in pubs/clubs/bars/restaurants. Again, it is great. The United Kingdom (including my current home of Northern Ireland) is to follow soon. Most of the people I know, even smokers, are really looking forward to it.

Honestly, I think there are greater problems in the world to worry about. So you don't get to fog up the room with your smoke, boo hoo. So you have to go outside to smoke, boo hoo. So you have to not smoke around those who don't, boo hoo. There are greater things worth fighting for, aside from your right to give yourself and others cancer.

Tom Earp · #12 04-02-2006, 05:45 PM

What is Next? Beer in Pubs?

Go to Your Coffeeee Shoppes and drink Lattes!

This is not entirely about Smoking! This is about Rights.!

Is it getting to restrictive in more ways than one?

OOOOOOOH, I Smoke, I cant Smoke in The OUT Doors!

What the heck else cannot I do in the OUTDOORS in the Future?

ZZ-kai- · #13 04-02-2006, 06:12 PM

You're right, it IS about rights. The rights of everyone, not smokers only. By someone putting me at risk because of their dirty habit, my rights are being violated. If I had it my way, smokers would only be allowed to smoke in their homes. Not in their cars, not in public, not in open air, sure as hell not in public places. AND, if they had kids, they'd be banned from smoking in there house as well. I get disgusted everytime I see a person smoking in there car, and those poor kids sitting in the back breathing in that smoke.

Smoking is a dirty, nasty habit. And I can't believe people continue to smoke, knowing that they are taking a small percentage of their life every puff.

PS, most of the smoking bans in my state, that I am aware of, were voted in by the citizens of their respective communities. That should tell you something, people don't want to be around smokers.

Beryana · #14 04-02-2006, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tom Earp
This is not entirely about Smoking! This is about Rights.!

And the 'rights' of smokers to smoke in enclosed buildings is infringing on my 'rights' to breathe relatively clean air in those same environments. When I waitressed, I made decent tips in the smoking section on Fridays and Saturday nights (it was also the bar area), however I felt like I had been hit by a truck the next day. This is in addition to smelling horrid, etc - I had to wash my hair three times to stop smelling like an ashtray!!

Do smokers not realize how nasty they smell?!

Sarah

ZZ-kai- · #15 04-02-2006, 06:26 PM

Didn't Superman's wife just die of lung-cancer (Dana Reeve)? I know she wasn't a smoker.

Not only does cigarettes kill the person smoking them, but the people around them too.

I grew up in a smoking home, I had to go to school smelling like a smoker, and had to deal with ashes coming back in the rear window when my parents would flick ashes out the front window. It was nasty. Can you tell I have had bad experiences with it?? Thankfully my parents quit cold-turkey about 5 years ago - I just hope that 30 years of smoking doesn't catch up to them, eventhough I feel it may.