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Tempe split over anti-smoking plan

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A smoking ban proposition was the topic of a city hall press conference Thursday that brought arguments between Tempe business owners who are against it and Tempe residents such as Tanner Schineller (left), his mother Holly and sister Skyler who are for i

Tempe business owners and residents gathered at City Hall for a press conference Thursday but failed to clear up questions surrounding a smoking ban proposition that has many nearby restaurant and bar owners irate.

Proposition 200 would restrict the smoking of tobacco or "any plant" within an enclosed place, particularly relating to public places and places of employment. It will appear on the Tempe ballot May 21.

Ambiguous language in the proposition suggested that smoking could also be prohibited on restaurant and bar patios.

But business owners and proposition proponents remained divided over whether the ban would encompass patio areas. The news conference ended with heated exchanges between both sides and the issue remained unresolved.

Paul McIntyre, former executive director of the San Diego Chapter California Restaurant Association, spoke before Tempe residents and business owners about the misconceptions surrounding Proposition 200 and said the proposal would not bankrupt businesses.

"California went through interim steps like this and what the state discovered was that there wasn't a significant economic impact," McIntyre said.

Californian voters approved a smoking ban that went into effect in 1995.

Eric Emmert, vice president of public affairs for the Tempe Chamber of Commerce, disagreed with McIntrye. He said the chamber opposes the proposed ordinance for three reasons.

"We would rather see a regional ban because people can just go into surrounding communities," Emmert said. "Secondly, this goes too far and is the most restrictive thing we have ever seen; and thirdly, if it passes, there will be reduction in tax revenue, loss of patrons, loss of jobs and closing of businesses."

McIntyre countered claims that businesses would fail because of the smoking ban ordinances and said that his studies show that tax revenues have remained the same and businesses haven't been forced to close.

Joel Booker, manager of Chili's on the southeast corner of Mill Avenue and University Drive, is afraid that if the proposition passes, the restaurant's revenue would drop significantly.

"During the right time of year, our patio has plenty of people sitting there that are both smokers and non-smokers," Booker said. "They are not going to come here as often if they cannot smoke while having their beer and gin and tonic or whatever."

Tempe Councilman Dennis Cahill said restaurant managers like Booker are being misled, and the proposition is designed to ban smoking inside. He added restaurant and bar owners have leeway when determining how close a patron can smoke in relation to the building.

"Prohibiting smoking on a patio is a pure concoction," Cahill said. "It's a fabrication by businesses, some whose motives are being affected by money."

Tempe bar and restaurant owners are especially concerned about Proposition 200.

Roger Egan, owner of McDuffy's Sportsbar at 230 W. Fifth St., is spearheading a campaign of downtown businesses against the proposition.

"This would be a total ban in Tempe unlike anything in this state," he said. "It would isolate Tempe like an island from its surrounding communities."

Egan added that the entire hospitality industry is scared, especially when looking at the loss of business other non-smoking communities have experienced.

"This is a high-energy market and a destination-oriented community, and this ban would not be very attractive to our customers," he said. "Our customers would have to go to surrounding communities like Scottsdale and Mesa, who will be able to take care of their customers when we can not."

Communities such as Mesa, Chandler and Scottsdale currently have stricter smoking ordinances in effect, but they do not ban smoking altogether as Proposition 200 proposes.

Many other downtown businesses and associations agree with Egan and have formed the group Tempeans for Freedom to Choose. The group is actively campaigning against the ban by posting anti-smoking ban posters in windows and signing petitions.

Former Mesa Mayor Wayne Brown said at the press conference that when Mesa first brought up a proposal for the no-smoking ordinance, it met heavy opposition, including from the Mesa Chamber of Commerce, because of fears that smoking patrons would travel to nearby cities.

"The ban has not taken away from the continued growth of Mesa," Brown said. "The ordinance is not derogatory toward the city and tax revenue has remained relatively constant."

Cahill said that the design of Tempe's proposition is to protect the people's health and safety.

"On one side of the issue there are very concerned citizens about their health," Cahill said. "On the other side, there are those that are concerned about the health of their pocketbooks."

Cahill added that workers in bars are not less worthy of protection.

"A worker who does not smoke should not consider trading his health for his paycheck," Cahill said.

Reach the reporters at tony.ku@asu.edu and kristina.davis@asu.edu.


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