Story Created:
Dec 18, 2007 at 5:36 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Dec 18, 2007 at 9:52 PM CDT
WICHITA, Kansas, December 18, 2007 - The talk is heating up on a possible smoking ban in Wichita. Now we're learning the Wichita City Council is not ready to approve a comprehensive smoking ban. The revelation came during a city council workshop on the issue.
"Personally, philosophically, I'm just not in favor of it." Jim Skelton, Wichita City Council member said.
"This for me is not a smoking issue," Sue Schlapp, Wichita City Council member said. "It's a rights issue. It's a business decision issue."
"I've come of the opinion that this is more of a business rights issue," Paul Gray, Wichita City Council member said.
But Vice Mayor Sharon Fearey and Mayor Carl Brewer support a ban. Brewer disagrees about whether a total ban would violate the rights of citizens.
"It doesn't make it un-American," Brewer said. "Anybody that tries to play that game, they're nuts. They're absolutely nuts."
After much discussion, it was decided that council members Jeff Longwell and LaVonta Williams would take the Lawrence ban, make changes to it and come up with a compromise smoking ban for Wichita.
"It's a lot better than a total ban, "Paul Weigand, Right to Choose Coalition member said. "I see light at the end of tunnel but there's a lot to be said for business owners rights. It's a very strong issue."
"I think the most important thing is that employees are protected," said Cindy Claycomb of Tobacco Free Wichita. "Employees shouldn't have to choose between a paycheck and their health."
The Lawrence ban prohibits smoking at places of employment and any enclosed public space, but allows smoking in outdoor areas like patio and decks. But the council feels the Lawrence ordinance is too vague and needs to be clarified. However coming up with a compromise will be no easy task. The hope is to have a new compromise proposal for the council to consider in the next few months.
