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• Smoke & Mirrors...A deeper look at the city's proposed smoking bans 

When Ted Schiele, director of Tobacco Free Tompkins, spoke to Ithaca's Common Council last summer in a committee meeting, he requested that citywide playgrounds, parks and outdoor events be designated smoke-free. Common Council thought the bans warranted, and committee chair Robin Holtham Korherr (D-5th Ward) one-upped Schiele's request. Korherr pushed exploration of further smoking bans, not only suggesting that The Commons become smoke-free, but the entire city, as well. Such an ordinance would mean city sidewalks, parking garages and other city-owned properties become illegal smoking grounds. Will a citywide smoking ban happen? At least not immediately. . . .

Nonetheless, some Common Council members still find the idea of large bans appealing. Much talk has surrounded piloting The Commons as a smoke-free zone before further considering the entire city. To justify such bans, Hoffman said the city needed "credible evidence that would stand up in a courtroom." Svante Myrick (D-4th Ward) said the evidence might be available. He cited studies that showed teenagers who saw their favorite movie stars smoking were substantially more likely to try smoking themselves. "I don't think we would be entirely without precedent if we emphasized this point," Myrick said. Korherr made a similar point. "We want to be setting a positive example for youth," she said. Dan Cogan (D-5th Ward) added that while "the committee was fairly persuaded by the role-model approach," he expected the council to organize a public hearing if it proceeded toward a large ban. Council members seem aware that second-hand smoke alone might not warrant large bans.

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