Jump to full article: Eden Prairie (MN) News, 2002-10-02
Author: EP Mayor Nancy Tyra-Lukens, Commentary
Intro: There seems to be a fair amount of misinformation surrounding the City Council’s consideration of a smoking ordinance. I would like to take this opportunity to give a little history and discuss where things are going.
Contrary to the belief of some community members, the City Council did not raise this issue. Rather we responded to a petition from over 1,000 residents that asked us to consider implementing an ordinance that would reduce exposure to second hand smoke by restricting smoking in the workplace. . .
We mostly heard from our residents and business owners but in addition, we heard from people in Minnesota and around the country. We heard about health issues, impacts on business, smokers’ rights and the rights of people to breathe clean air and the right of government to legislate people’s lifestyles. The controversy surrounding this issue came as no surprise to any of the council members. As a direct observer of the process, I feel that council members received the information with an open mind and their positions evolved over the course of time.
Thus far the council reached consensus on five main points at our workshop on September 17. . .
But to be fair, the council should be portrayed as a group of elected officials who consulted their constituents on a difficult issue that many councils would not have had the political fortitude to address.
They studied the issue, debated the issue and finally, with an understanding of this complicated subject, worked toward a compromise.
Jump to full article » |