Jump to full article: Louisville (KY) Courier-Journal, 2009-10-27
Author: Francesca Jarosz The Indianapolis Star
Intro: A proposal to ban smoking in nearly all Indianapolis workplaces faces an uncertain future after a narrowly divided City-County Council tabled it Monday night.
The 14-13 vote, with two members absent, means the ordinance can return to the council with majority support. But some on the council said achieving that could be difficult.
Opponents of the ordinance, which would strengthen a current ban on smoking in most restaurants and public spaces such as hotel lobbies, were declaring victory after Monday's vote.
"I don't think this council is going to bring it back," said Brad Klopfenstein, former executive director of the Indiana Licensed Beverage Association who is leading an opposition group called Save Indianapolis Bars. "I'm glad to see they're representing the rights of adults to make adult decisions."
Others interpreted the vote differently. Bruce Hetrick is a volunteer for Smoke Free Indy whose wife died of cancer after years of working in a smoke-filled environment.
"We have tonight stared in the face of overwhelming health and economic evidence and just scoffed at it," he said. "This delay tonight is another death sentence. It's deeply disappointing."
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