[C-U Smokefree] Today's Sun Times Smoke Free Chicago

[Kathy Drea]

	Chicago likely to OK indoor smoking ban 


	September 30, 2005 

	BY FRAN SPIELMAN <mailto:fspielman at suntimes.com>  City Hall
Reporter 

	Smoking would be banned next April 1 in restaurants, bars and
virtually all of indoor Chicago under a groundbreaking ordinance
expected to be approved by a City Council committee Wednesday,
culminating a $1.5 million crusade by anti-smoking advocates. 

	With several concessions -- but only a precious few to
restaurants and bars -- Health Committee Chairman Ed Smith (28th) is
forging ahead with a vote on the ordinance he championed. Sources said
the alderman is confident he now has up to 11 of 14 votes in committee
and well over 26 needed for full Council approval. 

	Instead of demanding an immediate ban, Smith and a coalition of
anti-smoking advocates led by the American Cancer Society have agreed to
a six-month phase-in with an effective date of April 1 -- two weeks
after St. Patrick's Day. Instead of banning smoking within 25 feet of
building entrances, the protective ring would extend for just 10 feet to
allow smoking at sidewalk cafes. 

	Smoking would be permitted in public walkways and non-enclosed
outdoor spaces like Millennium Park, Taste of Chicago and Navy Pier. And
Chicago would follow New York's lead by creating a "hardship exemption"
for restaurants and bars that have the gross receipts to prove sales
have dropped by 15 percent after one smoke-free year. 

	Those restaurants would qualify for a one-year "non-renewable"
exemption when smoking would be permitted, but only if they create a
designated smoking area composed of "no more than 25 percent" of the
establishment's total square footage that's "physically separated" from
all other areas with a "self-closing door." 

	With those concessions, an anti-smoking bandwagon that gained
steam following the lung cancer death of ABC News anchorman Peter
Jennings and the lung cancer diagnosis of the widow of actor Christopher
Reeve is now ready to roll out of the Health Committee. 

	"We believe we have the votes," said a source close to the
high-powered lobbying effort. 

	Ald. Pat O'Connor (40th), Mayor Daley's unofficial City Council
floor leader, agreed with that assessment. "I would give it a good
chance of passing the City Council, based on previous head counts." 

	This week, Daley talked once again about the search for a
compromise that would exempt free-standing neighborhood bars and
well-ventilated bars attached to restaurants. "You need compromise....
It's a huge industry. It employs many people. Very significant here in
Chicago. And we've worked very closely with them. We don't have to be
antagonistic towards any industry," he said. 

	Mayoral aides refused to say whether Daley would mount an effort
to block the anti-smoking ordinance. 

	'License to kill' 

	Smith could not be reached for comment on his decision to spurn
more dramatic concessions proposed by the restaurant industry. 

	Last week, he denounced as a "license to kill" a proposal by
downtown Ald. Burton F. Natarus (42nd) to allow restaurants, bars and
bowling alleys to apply for a smoking license, with revenue -- $250 for
every $500,000 in annual sales tax revenue reported -- earmarked for
smoking cessation programs. 

	Smith also rejected a suggestion from Ald. Tom Tunney (44th),
owner of Ann Sather's Restaurants, for a restaurant-only smoking ban
that would expire at 9 p.m., when patrons would be free to light up. 

	Since 1994, Chicago restaurants have been required to designate
at least 30 percent of their tables for nonsmokers. When their city
licenses are renewed, they must declare themselves 30 percent
smoke-free, 50 percent anti-smoking, or ban smoking entirely. 

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