Petition challenges smoking ban

By Robby Lewis, Staff Writer
Nov. 9, 2007

Brenden Neville

Columbia residents Justin Hall and Michelle Grant-Neese smoke cigarettes Thursday outside Lakota Coffee Co. Local businesses have filed a petition to repeal the citywide smoking ban.

The debate over the smoking ban in public places was reignited this week. Local business owners filed a petition to repeal the ban that was put into effect in January.

The Columbia City Council voted 4-3 on the ban in October 2006. Fourth Ward Councilman Jerry Wade, who was not part of the council when the ban was voted on, supports the decision that was made by the council.

"During the campaign, I said I supported the ban," Wade said. "I think it's a legitimate public safety issue."

Many restaurants have closed since the ban was put into effect. Wade said he does not believe businesses should rely on smoking for their business.

"It is an issue of public health," Wade said. "I believe it is the business's responsibility to make a successful business within the economic climate in which they are located."

Wade said the petition has already made it to City Hall, but it will have to be decided that the petition is valid before it is brought to the council.

"The petitions have been submitted," Wade said. "The City Clerk is checking the names to see if there are enough legal names on the petition. Then, that will come to the City Council to decide whether or not to repeal the smoking ban. I don't think the City Council will repeal the ban, and if they don't, it will go to an election."

Mayor Darwin Hindman said he also supports the ban.

"I am very much a supporter of the smoking ban," Hindman said. "When you smoke, you cause harm to anyone in the range of the smoke."

Hindman said he doesn't think businesses closed because of the ban.

"I doubt the validity of that claim," Hindman said. "I know that some of these businesses were having problems before the ban. It is easy to try and find another reason besides business failure."

First Ward Councilwoman Almeta Crayton voted against the ban in October and said she still does not support it.

"It's not about smoking," Crayton said. "It's people's rights that are being taken away. These restaurants are closing and no one wants to admit to the reason."

Crayton said she thinks the community should have voted on the issue before the council passed it.

"I'm not a smoker, but I think people should be allowed to go wherever they want to," Crayton said. "I think the community should have been able to vote on this in the first place."

Crayton said the ban takes away from the rights of business owners.

"If you want to open up a bar for smokers, you should be allowed to," Crayton said. "If you want to open up a bar for non-smokers, you should be allowed to."

Booches co-owner Richard Robertson said before the ban, people still had the right to choose where they wanted to go.

"Everybody knows smoking is not good for you, but most of the places in Columbia were non-smoking already," Robertson said. "People could choose where they wanted to go."

Robertson said smoking might only be the start of what council might take away from businesses.

"The city is turning Columbia into a nanny state," he said. "Who knows what they'll take away next?"

Robertson said the ban is hurting his business and is one of the main reasons for the closing of many other restaurants.

"It's definitely had an effect on my business," Robertson said. "Especially my evening business. If people didn't want to be around smoke, they didn't have to go to a place that allowed smoking. People are adults. They can choose where they want to go."

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Petition challenges smoking ban

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