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NYC Mayor Bloomberg introduces new smoke-free workplace
legislation
On August 8th, 2002, Mayor Michael Bloomberg proposed a new smoke free
initiative for New York City. The newly proposed Clean Indoor Air bill
would ban smoking in all bars, restaurants, pool halls and billiard parlors
regardless of size. The current law bans smoking only in restaurants that
seat more than 35 people and gives allowance for stand-alone bars or bars
within restaurants that are separately ventilated.
This new bill would assist in protecting NYC's employees from toxins and
dangerous chemicals found within second hand smoke. According to Mayor
Bloomberg, 160,000 New Yorkers work in the bar and restaurant industry
and should be entitled to a safe workplace, free of environmental tobacco
smoke. The bill would reduce the potential risk of illness or premature
death, due to poor indoor air quality caused by second-hand smoke.
It is estimated that second-hand smoke causes over 3,000 lung cancer deaths
annually, as well as aggravation of asthmatic conditions and impaired
blood circulation. Second hand smoke also causes 35,000 heart disease
deaths in nonsmokers each year. In New York City alone, an estimated 25%
smoke, while 75% of nonsmokers must involuntarily breathe the toxic fumes
of smokers. A nonsmoker working in a smoke-filled room for eight hours
will breathe as many cancer-causing chemicals as if he or she had smoked
36 cigarettes
In the past, the tobacco industry has instead suggested the installation
of ventilation systems to expel the tobacco smoke. For most smaller establishments
and family businesses, this solution is too expensive, and, to date, there
is no evidence or research done to prove this would be an effective alternative
in reducing the harmful toxins inhaled from tobacco smoke. “This
new bill would not only save thousand of lives but also level the playing
field for all restaurants and bars,” said Ariel Lenarduzzi, coordinator
for the Alliance for a Smoke Free Queens.
In California, where tobacco smoking has been banned in public places
since 1998, restaurant and bar patronage has actually increased. Shortly
after California’s smoking ban, statistics revealed that people
went out more, spent more per check, and restaurant employment jumped
18%, reports Joe Weaver from CigaretteSmokingKills.com.
“This is a popular mandate”, said Chris Torres, a student
from Forest Hills High School. He went on to quote poll results released
by the New York City Coalition for a Smoke-Free City, American Cancer
Society, American Heart Association, and American Lung Association of
New York, Inc. that nearly 3 out of every 4 New Yorkers believe all workplaces
should be smoke-free. The majority of those surveyed also said they would
be more likely to support a candidate for mayor or city council who endorsed
such clean indoor air policies; they also said they would go out to restaurants
and bars as much or more if smoking were prohibited.
For those who would like to get involved in the passing of this bill or
would like more information on the subject, please contact Ariel Lenarduzzi
from the Alliance for a Smoke-Free Queens at 718-263-2225 x 33.
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