http://www.pjstar.com/stories/041907/TRI_BCVNF7TR.057.php

City Council still opposes smoking ban
But Grayeb plans to propose law after referendum results

Thursday, April 19, 2007

BY JENNIFER DAVIS

OF THE JOURNAL STAR

PEORIA - At-large Councilman Chuck Grayeb may want to revisit a citywide smoking ban in light of Tuesday's referendum results, but a majority of the City Council still wants to see it go up in smoke.
Voters supported 2-1 an advisory referendum asking if they want a statewide smoking ban - with 9,191 votes, or 66.8 percent, in favor to 4,560 votes, or 33.2 percent, opposed.

And while a bill that would ban smoking indoors statewide, including in bars and restaurants, has passed the Illinois Senate and is pending in the House, Grayeb still plans to bring an ordinance to the council on Tuesday that will implement a citywide ban in case the state legislature fails to enact a statewide ban.

His law would go into effect July 1 - after the General Assembly's scheduled adjournment - and would also allow businesses to build an outdoor area for smoking patrons.

"I'm marching forward with this," Grayeb said Wednesday. "Let (those opposed) justify to the public if they must. Bottom line, this is an insidious and silent killer. It's no less a compelling health issue than when the county comes in to make sure everything is clean in a restaurant."

Grayeb is pushing the ordinance now before he retires from the council May 1.

Still, a majority of council members say they don't want to vote on something before the General Assembly adjourns, particularly a law that they believe will drive businesses to nearby cities.

"That will fail 10-1," said at-large Councilman Eric Turner of Grayeb's proposed ordinance. "It's one thing if we have a statewide ban, (but) I'm not going to do anything that's going to hurt businesses."

Mayor Jim Ardis and 3rd District Councilman Bob Manning both said they don't believe the council should vote on "a hypothetical situation."

"I can't see us passing an ordinance based on what may or may not happen in the future," Ardis said. "I think it's premature for us to do something before we know what (the state) is doing."

Second District Councilwoman Barbara Van Auken said she still opposes a smoking ban.

"I would have the same position I had last time. I think it's foolish to put Peoria businesses at a disadvantage," Van Auken said, adding it's "foolish and premature to be setting artificial deadlines."

Still, the local office of the American Cancer Society touted Tuesday's election results and urged local lawmakers state Reps. David Leitch, Aaron Schock and Mike Smith to vote for the statewide ban.

"(Tuesday), the people of Peoria spoke loud and clear on this issue," said Ann Centers, a cancer survivor and local volunteer with the American Cancer Society. "Two out of three voters said in a dramatic fashion that it's time to change the status quo."

According to the U.S. Surgeon General, second-hand smoke kills an estimated 2,900 adults and children in Illinois each year and an estimated 65,000 people nationally.

Smoke-Free Illinois, a statewide advocacy group, says 45 Illinois communities have passed smoke-free ordinances, as well as 16 states.


Jennifer Davis can be reached at 686-3282 or jdavis@pjstar.com.