NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) – To be smoke-free or not to be — that is the question.
More than 250 supporters and opponents came out to a public hearing Wednesday, over a proposed ordinance that would make smoking banned in most public places, including bars and casinos.
New Orleans City Council Members LaToya Cantrell and Susan Guidry made 15 amendments, some of the big ones.
Smokers would only have to be 5 feet away from public property, instead of the originally proposed 25 feet.
Smoking would still be allowed in cigar and hookah bars established before January 8th of this year. And smoking would also be allowed at big public events, like Jazzfest and Voodoo Fest.
Councilwoman Cantrell says it is time this was put into place. But many opponents of the ban say these changes aren’t good enough.
A spokesman for Harrah’s Casino told us they could lose lots of money and business.
“The impact to us would be in the millions of dollar range and what that translates to from a tax standpoint to the city and the state — it can be pretty substantial. Cancer and smoking have impacted everybody, but people also have the opportunity to choose,” said Logan Gaskill of Harrah’s Casino.
“When you talk about the dollar amount, you also have to talk about the health of our people, and that really trumps it all. And it is time for the City of New Orleans to step up and ensure that all of our people, all of our employees, musicians have the right to work in a healthy, clean environment,” said Councilwoman LaToya Cantrell.
A Gallup poll from last year found 24.1% of the people in Louisiana smoke — one of the highest smoking rates in the country.
But a smaller poll, from the American Cancer Society, found that 66% of voters favor a smoke-free ordinance.
The committee will take the public comment made Wednesday into consideration.
Then the council will vote on the legislation later. An official date hasn’t been set.
