TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WIBQ) – It’s been a burning debate for Terre Haute residents, but now the city will have a smoking ban.
The city council unanimously agreed last night to make all Terre Haute workplaces smoke free. All nine City Council members voted to ban smoking in all work places. It’s a decision that was reached after much debate. The ban will go into effect July 1st, 2012, which is the same time a proposed similar county ban would go into place.
This will also be an issue in this year’s state legislature. Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels has said he’ll support a state-wide ban on smoking in all Indiana workplaces.
What about Evansville? Last year for the first time the Evansville City Council deadlocked 4 to 4 with one member absent on a stronger smokefree workplace ordinance that currently exists. There was still an unrestricted exception for Casino Aztar that sparked much debate over the fairness to other entertainment venues. The Vanderburgh County Council has stated clearly that a comprehensive smokefree workplace resolution will be fast tracked this year. Is it true that we are beginning to wonder if Evansville will be the last city on earth to get around to passing a resolution to provide for comprehensive smokefree workplaces for all of its citizens? It is one thing to be behind California and New York. It is quite another to lag Terre Haute.
