Tobacco.org

• Residents, visitors say they're in favor of Columbus smoking ban  

As the city readies to weigh public input on new citywide smoking rules at a hearing Tuesday, residents and visitors to Columbus, randomly surveyed Friday, all supported the council passing a city-wide smoking ban.

"I think it's good (to ban smoking in public places)," Corey Thompson, of Columbus, said while shopping at Leigh Mall. "The people who don't smoke don't want to be around it and the smokers can go outside, I guess."

"I don't smoke," said Jamelia Joiner, of Macon, who was dining in Columbus. "I think it's a good idea."

"That's a good idea (to) ban people from smoking," agreed Shedrick Shanklin, of Macon. "I can't stand all that smoke."