Bessemer council hasn't changed mind about smoking ban, councilman says

People opposed to Bessemer's new comprehensive ban on smoking in businesses spoke their mind to the Bessemer City Council. tonight, but a majority of the council still favors the ban, one councilman said. About 50-60 people showed up for tonight's public hearing at Bessemer City Hall, most of them opposing the city's new smoking ban, but just as many people spoke in favor of the ban at a previous public hearing held in June, prior to the council's vote on the matter, Councilman David Vance said.

Some opponents of the city's new smoking ordinance, which goes into effect Nov. 1, say they want the council to rescind the ordinance it passed on Aug. 14 and revert back to a 2007 ordinance that allowed businesses such as bars, lounges, restaurants and hotels to establish designated smoking areas.

The new ordinance eliminates that option. Opponents said they didn't know the council was considering the ban until after it passed and they wanted a chance to be heard. That prompted the council to delay implementation of the ordinance from Sept. 13 to Nov. 1. Vance said the council agreed to hear opponents out but a majority of the council still favors the ban and he does not anticipate the council changing its decision. "I'm not trying to tell people what to do," Vance said. "I'm just trying to look out for people who don't smoke and have to be around it.

All we're asking is for them to be considerate of their neighbors and just change their smoking habits." Kim Cochran, a consultant for the American Cancer Society Action Network said she congratulates the Bessemer City Council for passing a smoke-free workplace ordinance. "By making workplaces, including bars, restaurants and other public venues smoke-free, Bessemer's ordinance set a high bar for smoke-free policies being considered by other municipalities around the state," Cochran said in a written statement.

"However, the council is now delaying implementation of the ordinance thereby continuing to expose Bessemer residents, workers and visitors to the dangers of secondhand smoke," Cochran said. "Inhaling the dangerous chemicals found in tobacco smoke can be harmful to your health, causing cancer, cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. Everyone has the right to breathe clean, smoke-free air."