Jump to full article: SCNOW.com, 2009-11-10
Intro: The Florence City Council rejected an ordinance Monday that would have banned smoking in public places. The 4-3 vote raised the prospect of revisiting the issue with a compromise to balance the rights of individuals and business owners with the need to provide a healthy environment in the city.
The ordinance, proposed by councilman Buddy Brand and councilwoman Octavia Williams-Blake, was misconstrued as a referendum on smoking. . . .
Tobacco has been a huge cash crop in the Pee Dee for decades. But this debate is not about the elimination of tobacco and its products. It's about fresh air in public places.
For the sake of a healthy community, we support the no-smoking ordinance. We think it would be progressive and bold for Florence to become the first city in the Pee Dee to ban it.
We applaud city leaders for elevating the issue and ask them to tweak the ordinance for another vote in the near future.
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