New Orleans' smoking ban debate to spark up in council committee

The latest drive to permanently put out all cigarettes in bars, casinos, bus stops, parks and prisons in New Orleans heads to the City Council this week for a public debate two months in the offing.

Councilwoman LaToya Cantrell announced her plans to let people weigh in on the most comprehensive ban against the unhealthy habit yet introduced in this traditionally permissive city. The council's Community Development Committee is scheduled to assemble at 10 a.m. Wednesday (Jan. 7).

Cantrell, who co-authored the proposed ban with Councilwoman Susan Guidry and introduced it to the council in November, said in a statement that the new law "would go a long way in terms of protecting our workers and improving public health."

But she left open the door for possible changes, saying that airing the proposal in public would help shape it into "the best possible legislation."

The so-called "smoke-free ordinance" has already received some blow-back. The state police in December announced that Louisiana stood to lose up to $104 million in public revenue every year generated by Harrah's Casino, the Fair Grounds race track and video-poker halls in New Orleans should the ban be implemented.

As it stands now, the 25-page proposed ordinance would prohibit any type of smoking, including tobacco, marijuana and electronic smoking devices, in public spaces, businesses, private clubs, bars, prisons, schools, parking garages, stadiums, parks and shelters for bus and streetcar passengers. It would also keep smokers 25 feet away from buildings where smoking is banned and 200 feet away from any school.

Off the hook would be private residences, specially designated hotel rooms, tobacco shops, designated rooms in assisted living facilities and any business that manufactures, imports, distributes or processes tobacco products.

Smoker Pit opposes the change as he uses Parliament cigarettes http://www.cigarettesplace.net/parliament-cigarettes for 10 years and it would be hard for him to quit.