FeedsSmoking ban has support, as well as nay sayers
The approval of legislation that would ban smoking in all Michigan workplaces, including bars, restaurants, and three Detroit casinos, is being hailed by legislators as a step to ensure the public’s health.
The package of bills was introduced into the state Senate last year, and faced opposition up until recently, when a 25-12 vote approved the ban, according to Sen. Ray Basham (D-Taylor).
“I have been advocating for the health and well-being of Michigan families for more than 10 years, and this is a major victory today in ensuring they have a safe, smoke-free environment to dine, work and play,” he said. “This is one of the biggest health concerns of our generation and a massive burden to state and commercial healthcare resources.”
Smoke-free workplaces – which have been embraced by 35 other states – still face some opposition from bars and restaurants as it heads back to the state House for a confirmation vote. Gov. Jennifer Granholm is expected to be sign the bill.
Indian casinos exempt
Romulus has a special interest in the bill because officials are pursuing Indian gaming in the city. Indian casinos, because of tribal sovereignty and a slew of jurisdictional issues, likely would not be part of the ban.
The legislation approved by the Senate removed a key exemption in the House bill for casinos that would allow some smoking inside gaming halls, but that provision was removed. It remains to be seen if the bill will be supported by a majority of the House members without the casino provision.
Some legislators who like the idea of forbidding smoking in public places have had issues with other provisions in the ban. State Rep. Richard LeBlanc (D-Westland) said he had some concerns about the framework of the bill. In particular, he said that he is concerned about the potential impact that it could have on private organizations and clubs, such as the V.F.W. or Am Vets, that maintain exclusive memberships and that aren’t traditionally public spaces.
Still, he said public support for the bill is overwhelming, and he will vote in support of it.
“As an elected representative for (the residents), I will be voting in support of it,” he said.
LeBlanc said that he is also open to the possibility of voting on amendments. He said that his ideal bill would be one that provides terms that are fair, reasonable, and that “don’t infringe on non-public entities.”
The possibility of smoking ban legislation was one of a myriad of issues included in a written survey LeBlanc’s office sent to 1,300 randomly selected households within Westland. Their answers, he said, were definitive.
“More than 88 percent of the 400 people who responded said ban smoking in all public places,” said LeBlanc.
LeBlanc acknowledged that the legislation might not be universally embraced, noting that it is essentially taking on a legal behavior that is habit-forming for some and socially enjoyable for others.
“I wouldn’t expect that we could undo all of that with one swipe of the pen,” he said.
Businesses leery
Vic Barra, president of the Wayne-Ford Civic League in Westland, wasn’t hesitant about voicing his concerns about the potential impact the proposed legislation would have on businesses that welcome smokers, including the regular bingo games the Civic League operates.
Although he stressed that the information currently available is very ambiguous, he said that one of his main concerns is that legislators could inadvertently kill off some currently viable businesses.
As an example, Barra noted that when Windsor underwent a wide-scale smoking ban, the number of bingo halls promptly dropped from 12 to four.
“How can we legislate legal businesses out of business,” he said. “I’m adamant that this legislation is too tough, too large, too fast.”
Others are concerned about entire business districts. With more than two dozen bars and restaurants within Plymouth and Plymouth Township, Wes Graff, the executive director of the Plymouth Community Chamber of Commerce, said local drinking establishments may “take a little hit,” initially from the ban, but will survive.
“If it’s a state-wide thing, everyone is on the same playing field. (Business) may go down at first, but it will pick back up,” he said.
Plymouth Downtown Development Authority Operations Director Sherrie Pryor said that a number of restaurant patrons throughout western Wayne County were forcing managements’ hand on the smoking issue long before the legislation was approved in the Senate.
“If you go to a restaurant, you notice more people are waiting in line for the non-smoking booths,” said Pryor. “(Bars and restaurants) are going in that direction.”
Health issues a concern
Employees of bars and restaurants, as well as the general public, are affected by second-hand smoke.
According to the American Cancer Society, secondhand smoke is the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States, killing 38,000 to 65,000 nonsmokers every year.
A study conducted at the University of California-Berkeley found that food service workers are approximately 50 percent more likely to develop lung cancer than the general public, because many are exposed to secondhand smoke at work.
Though there is disagreement about the level of risk posed by second-hand smoke, State Sen. Tupac Hunter (D-Detroit) said it was time to follow in the footsteps of other states that have approved a ban.
“The bottom line is that there is no safe exposure level to secondhand smoke, and our workers deserve a healthy work environment,” said Hunter. “It’s a shame it took more than 10 years to protect workers from the third leading cause of preventable death, but it’s never too late to do the right thing.”
Staff Writers Meghan Chatham and Lester Holmes contributed to this report.
