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“The Smoke-Free Debate Is Not Over,” Waco Coalition Says
Disappointed by the Waco City Council’s decision not to ban smoking entirely from bars, restaurants and workplaces, the Smoke-Free Waco coalition vowed Wednesday to continue to fight for a comprehensive smoking ordinance.
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21 Comments 
WACO (November 4, 2009)—The Smoke-Free Waco coalition vowed Wednesday to continue to fight for a comprehensive smoking ordinance after the Waco City Council Tuesday rejected an outright ban on smoking in bars, restaurants and workplaces in favor of tightening restrictions in the city’s existing ordinance.
"In voting for this weak compromise, the Waco City Council is saying that some of our citizens are more valuable and deserve more protection than others. That's not right,” said Dr. Bradford W. Holland, the coalition’s spokesman and the president-elect of the McLennan County Medical Society.
"The smoke-free debate is not over in Waco. These laws are sweeping the nation, we are lagging behind, and one day soon we will need to revisit this issue,” he said.
The new ordinance eliminates exemptions that allowed smoking in restaurants with fewer than eight employees and between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. in restaurants with fewer than 15 workers.
It still allows restaurants to offer smoking sections are completely sealed off and that have separate ventilation systems.
It also bars smoking in new bars, but allows smoking in those already in operation.
Latest Comments
Why should you determine were we can smoke and can't smoke. If you are so dead set on a smoke free enviroment then open up your own smoke free establishments and leave us alone who would like to cater to the everyone includeing the smokers.
I read your comments, agree with some, disagree with others. But I'm also getting tired of all the do-gooders(on their Band-Wagons/Soap-Boxes picking on smokers. Go pick up trash at Cameron Park, Lake Waco, on the Streets and in the Alleys, on the Highways, etc. If you non-smokers do not like smokers, then stay away from us. Because We certainly do not like you. Alcohol is a more 'prevalant cause' of people dying/getting killed/robbed/injured. Go pick on them!! I personally do not smoke around you, anywhere,and if you are invited into my home, I don't smoke in front of you. But you non-smokers enjoy 'all' the Federal/State/Local taxes We pay(which is millions of dollars). So you people can eat beans, fire up your fire places, not take a shower/bath, wear stinking perfume, and go drink your alcohol. But stay away from Smokers and any place we frequent that allows smoking. If you walk into a place and smell smoke, then go home! PERIOD!!
All smokers volunteered to be smokers. Nobody forced you to start. SMOKING IS A VOLUNTARY HABIT. When you are smoking in a room, you are forcing everyone in the room to smoke right along with you. I've been in restaurants with smoking and non-smoking areas, but the smoke fills THE ENTIRE BUILDING. There is no invisible wall keeping the smoke in the smoking area. Yes, diners can choose to go to a non-smoking restaurant if they wish. But, what if EVERY RESTAURANT has a smoking area that allows the smoke to go through the whole building? Why should non-smokers be forced to choose between a smoking and non-smoking establishment when we CHOSE not to start this nasty habit??? I love to bowl, but I can't go bowling because every bowling alley smells like a full ash tray. I can't go to a bar to have a drink because EVERY BAR is full of smoke. You want to know how your smoking intrudes on my life? THAT'S HOW!
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