Smoking Ban Proposal Lights Up in North Little Rock

Voters in North Little Rock may get the chance to vote on a smoking ban in public places. At Monday night`s meeting, the council discusses taking such a ban to the people for a vote. It would prevent smoking in most public places, except for free-standing bars, tobacco stores, and hotel rooms. But critics of the law say they`re afraid that if it`s approved, they could lose revenues to the south of the river. Milton Siebs enjoys a cigarette after lunch, and says no ban on smoking will stop him from having one. "I`m a smoker, a heavy smoker, and I`ll go to places where I can smoke," said Siebs. But there may be fewer of those place to smoke, if voters in North Little Rock say so. "I think it`s fine outside a building, but I think they ought to ban it," said Anne Glover, while having lunch in a North Little Rock restaurant. "The main thing is just democracy in action, people want to decide themselves and not have 8 aldermen decide," said NLR Alderman Greg Yielding, who sponsored the ordinance. But it`s not just about the democracy. "It`s a health issue and that`s pretty simple," Yielding said. The ordinance sites a National Cancer Institute study done in 1999, saying that second-hand smoke kills 65,000 Americans a year; and the U.S. Surgeon General says separating smokers and non-smokers reduces exposure to second-hand smoke. "I think it would crush us, especially at nighttime," said Mike Kent, owner of the Cornerstone Deli and Pub in North Little Rock. He and other critics of the ban are concerned banning smoking in North Little Rock would send smokers and their money to the neighboring city to the south. "North Little Rock, I understand, the restaurant business is a $130 million a year revenue," said Alderman Charlie Hight, who opposes the ban. Cornerstone Deli and Pub owners say it should be up to them to decide whether or not their customers can smoke. "Where are they gonna go now if we`re not allowed to have people smoke in our place? They`re gonna go straight across the river," Kent said. The ordinance sponsor, Alderman Greg Yielding says he`ll try to get the council to vote on the ordinance Monday night. If passed, the issue will be on the ballot in the May primary.