Resolution isn't ban, but it supports action for a public policy
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Second public hearing added on proposed county smoking ban April 07, 2007
By Mick Zawislak, Daily Herald Staff Writer
Many bars and restaurants in unincorporated western Lake County have no interest in banning smoking. Should the county enact a “smoke-free” ordinance, however, there would be no choice. County officials agreed Friday the proposal should be aired in the backyards of those it may affect most. A second public hearing has been added in advance of a county board vote, tentatively scheduled for May 8. The hearing will be April 30 at a time and place to be determined. That is in addition to an April 24 hearing, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the University Center in Grayslake. Also, a community forum regarding smoke-free work places is scheduled for April 17 at the same location at 7 p.m. County board members Bonnie Thomson Carter of Ingleside and Judy Martini of Antioch argued the ban should be discussed in the area most affected. An estimated 60 bars and restaurants in unincorporated areas would be affected by a smoking ban, according to the county. Martini said a third of the county’s 51 liquor licenses are in her district alone. “The Chain o’ Lakes is known for having all these bars,” she said. “I would appreciate a hearing in what I call the wild, wild west.” Carter said she thinks a smoking ban is the right thing to do but was uncomfortable approving one for an area where communities won’t pass it. “I would love to be able to vote for this … but this is what my constituents are telling me,” she said. Statistics provided by the county health department show 11 of Lake County’s 52 communities have passed a smoking ordinance of some type, and that just less than 12 percent of Lake County residents smoke, the lowest rate of any county in Illinois. Some communities have balked at enacting ordinances until there is a uniform state law. In those that have, opponents have argued smokers would go to bars or restaurants in nearby communities without a ban. “It’s a different lifestyle out west than we have in the eastern part of the county,” Carter said. Dale Galassie, director of the county health department, said the county’s decision may be moot by the time it is made. “The goal has always been a smoke-free Illinois,” he said. “They might beat us and that’s cool if they do.” The Illinois Senate in late March approved a statewide smoking ban. The House could consider the measure in about two weeks, Galassie said. “We think it will be through the House before we come back to you,” he said. Read
I want to add a note to everyone that a Lake County Smoking Ban will only affect the businesses located in unincorporated Lake County. It is complete stupidity for the County Board to target these venues. It will not affect the majority of Lake County, because most businesses are within the various municipalities' boundaries. Cook County is the only county in Illinois with home rule authority over all its communities. ______________________________ Garnet Dawn - The Smoker's Club, Inc. - Midwest Regional Director The United Pro Choice Smokers Rights Newsletter - http://www.smokersclubinc.comIllinois Smokers Rights - http://www.illinoissmokersrights.com/mailto:garnetdawn@comcast.net - Respect Freedom of Choice!
County thinking tough on smoking
Health board pushing strong smoke-free law February 15, 2007
By Madhu Krishnamurthy, Daily Herald Staff Writer
Lake County health officials are drafting a smoke-free ordinance for unincorporated areas that may be more restrictive than others adopted in the state. “We want to present the strongest public health-oriented ordinance we can,” said Bill Mays, Lake County Health Department director of community health services. Counties and municipalities without home rule got the authority to ban smoking in public places last June through an amendment to the Illinois Clean Indoor Air Act. As of January, Cook, McLean and Sangamon counties and 39 municipalities, including 11 in Lake County, instituted smoking bans. Many towns exempt freestanding bars, restaurants, and bowling alleys from either having to conform entirely or going cold turkey by giving such establishments more time to adapt to the new rules. For example, Arlington Heights allows smoking at the racetrack; Wheaton exempts its bowling alleys until June; and Deerfield, Highland Park and Libertyville excuse smoking at area tobacco retailers. Yet Lake County’s ordinance is being modeled after the most stringent existing laws with no room for exceptions, Mays said. “If, ultimately, the county board decides on the exemptions, that’s their purview. But we don’t want to build those in right off the bat,” May said. The draft regulation will go before the county health board March 7. The board is expected to adopt an ordinance April 11. Mays hopes the ordinance will be adopted by the county board in June. “We understand we need to give county board members plenty of time for processing this,” Mays said. “It’s by no means a unanimous feeling about this.” Public hearings on such an ordinance would be held at the county board level, not in front of the board of health. However strict Lake County wants to go, now is the time to do it, said state Sen. Terry Link, a Waukegan Democrat who is sponsoring one of two competing measures banning smoking statewide. State law would supersede any ordinances counties or municipalities have in place. “If we pass the statewide ban, there would be no necessity for them to pass the countywide one, then,” Link said. “I think that they have a better chance of passing theirs right now. It’s smart on their part to do that because if this (statewide ban) doesn’t pass, then you have to wait another year.” Read
Subject: Letter to the Editor - Lake County health dept. backs smokeless suburbs
RE: Lake County health dept. backs smokeless suburbs
Leave it to the tobacco control charitable organizations to again resort to "cute" but untrue and grossly over-repeated bathroom humor to influence decision makers and win support. Can't the AHA, ACS and ALA come up with some new, titillating and clever phrase to distort SHS claims?
With the taxpayers picking up the bill, why shouldn't they use country clubs and hotels to sponsor extravagant breakfasts, while our health department inundates Lake County public officials with junk science claims about the dangers of second hand smoke and fraudulent economic reports, claiming bans have no negative effect on hospitality revenues. Kudos to those mayors who are refusing to impulsively jump onto the smoking ban bandwagon blindly.
It appears the Lake County Health Department is frantic to have our cities and towns pass bans before they can personally learn the results from existing, but not-yet-implemented smoking bans in Illinois. I wonder if they are afraid that, once the devastating effects to suburbs where bans have been passed become public knowledge, smoking bans will become very unpopular in Illinois village and city councils. Sincerely, Garnet Dawn Scheuer - garnetdawn@comcast.net Illinois Smokers Rights - http://www.illinoissmokersrights.com/Lake Bluff, IL ------ Lake County health dept. backs smokeless suburbs By Madhu Krishnamurthy, Daily Herald Staff Writer Posted Wednesday, August 30, 2006 They weren’t blowing smoke. Armed with studies and statistics, representatives from the Lake County Health Department and a few national health organizations tried convincing a small gathering of suburban mayors in Vernon Hills on Tuesday that smoke-free communities are the future. Read more
County mayors meet on smoking Mayors from throughout Lake County will be meeting in groups at three breakfast forums over the next month to continue discussions about creating smoke-free communities. The Lake County Health Department and the American Red Cross are jointly sponsoring the forums to encourage more dialogue among municipal leaders regarding non-smoking ordinances. "It's an opportunity to share information with the municipalities so they can discuss the benefits of smoking-control ordinances," said Bill Mays, director of community health for the Lake County Health Department. Several communities have enacted ordinances restricting smoking in restaurants and bars, including Highland Park, Deerfield, Lindenhurst, Buffalo Grove, Lake Forest and Lincolnshire. Libertyville and Vernon Hills also are considering smoking ordinances, Mays said. The first breakfast forum will be held on Aug. 29, from 8-10 a.m., at Hawthorn Suites, Ltd., 975 N. Lakeview Parkway, Vernon Hills. Mayors or village presidents from Mundelein, Libertyville, Green Oaks, Highwood, Grayslake, Gurnee, Waukegan, North Chicago, Park City, Round Lake Beach, Round Lake, Round Lake Heights, Round Lake Park and Lakemoor have been invited to attend that meeting. The program will include a brief overview of smoke-free ordinances, open discussion on concerns surrounding the implementation of an ordinance, and remarks from Highland Park Mayor Michael Belsky. Mayors or village officials from 13 other communities - Barrington, Barrington Hills, Deer Park, Hawthorn Woods, Island Lake, Kildeer, Lake Barrington, Lake Zurich, Long Grove, North Barrington, Port Barrington, Tower Lakes and Wauconda - have been invited to attend a second forum Sept. 7 at the Hillcrest Country Club in Long Grove. A third and final forum will be held Sept. 12 at the Holiday Inn in Gurnee, and invitations have been sent to the mayors of Antioch, Beach Park, Fox Lake, Hainesville, Lake Villa, Lakemoor, Old Mill Creek, Third Lake, Volo, Wadsworth, Winthrop Harbor and Zion. Mays said invitations have been sent out to towns that have not yet enacted smoke-free ordinances. Unified plan Mays said one benefit of municipal officials meeting regionally in groups is to discuss the benefits of "a comprehensive unified plan" to address smoking in the county. Mays said the meetings also will attempt to address the concerns of some communities, who fear enacting smoke-free ordinances will have negative economic impacts on bar and restaurant business in their communities. Belsky said he does not believe Highland Park has suffered economically since a smoking ban was enacted on restaurants and bar areas about a year ago. "I also think it's the right thing to do from a health perspective," he said. While many other communities weigh whether to enact their own smoking bans, Mays said health officials likely will eventually propose a non-smoking ordinance for unincorporated areas but that probably won't happen for several months. "We want to talk to everybody and get more input from the municipalities before we approach the County Board with any draft ordinance," said Mays. Read
County approves smoking resolution 5-25-06 BY JOHN ROSZKOWSKI | STAFF WRITER roszkowski@pioneerlocal.com A divided Lake County Board passed a non-binding resolution endorsing a smoke-free Lake County by 2007. The board voted 14-9 last week to endorse a resolution by the Lake County Board of Health lending support to municipalities who are considering smoking bans in places frequented by the public, such as restaurants or bars. While the resolution holds no actual weight, it could be the first step toward the establishment of a smoking ordinance for the unincorporated areas. "This is not a ban. We have no power to have a smoking ban, as of yet," said Board Member Steve Carlson, R-7th, of Gurnee. A bill that would give counties the authority to restrict smoking in unincorporated areas has passed both Houses of the General Assembly but is awaiting the governor's signature. Dale Galassie, executive director of the Lake County Health Department, said before considering smoking restrictions in unincorporated areas it would hold public hearings later this year to get input from affected parties, including restaurant and bar owners and residents. He said an ordinance likely will not come to the full county board for consideration until next year. In the meantime, he said the health department will encourage local villages and cities to adopt their own smoking ordinances. Several Lake County communities including Highland Park, Deerfield and Lincolnshire have passed smoking bans, and others are considering it. Some board members opposed the passage of the county's resolution, arguing it was a first step toward a broader countywide smoking ban. "I think we're overstepping," said Board Member Larry Leafblad, R-6th, of Grayslake. "Is this the government's business or is this somebody's personal business?" Proponents of smoking restrictions disagree, arguing second-hand smoke has negative health consequences for non-smokers and employees who work in bars and restaurants. "This is not about taking away anybody's rights, but we're also talking about everyone's right to breath in clean air," said Pam Newton, R-18th, of Vernon Hills. Read
Smoking ban builds steam
2 Lake County towns may copy Vernon Hills By Dave Wischnowsky
Tribune staff reporter
May 22, 2006 Following Vernon Hills' action last week, Lindenhurst and Lake Forest could be the next Lake County municipalities to pass smoking bans, officials said. On Tuesday, Vernon Hills joined Deerfield, Highland Park, Lincolnshire and Buffalo Grove in banning smoking in public places, including restaurants and bars. The unanimous decision by the Village Board came one week after the County Board passed a resolution supporting a Health Department proposal to make the county smoke-free by the end of 2007. Vernon Hills' ordinance, which will take effect Oct. 1, prohibits smoking in all enclosed public places, including retail stores and elevators. Smoking will be permitted, however, at parks and in outdoor dining areas, although those areas must be at least 15 feet from a building entrance. Officials in Lindenhurst and Lake Forest said Friday that their suburbs are also considering ordinances, although neither has settled on a specific plan or a timetable to make a decision. The Lindenhurst Village Board began discussing a proposed ordinance earlier this month that would ban smoking in all enclosed public places and some unenclosed public places, including parks and school grounds as well as places of employment. The proposal is being revised based on board members' suggestions, Lindenhurst village spokeswoman Cindy Spangler said. Meanwhile, in Lake Forest, city management analyst Carina Walters said nothing has been presented to the City Council and no ordinance has been drafted. "We are monitoring what the other municipalities are doing," Walters said. Mayor Michael Rummel, however, said he expects the City Council to begin discussing the issue in June. Some restaurants and bars in Lake Forest already restrict smoking, he said. "The point is, people are already thinking about it," Rummel said. "I'm pretty much for a smoking ban. But I'm not going to be the one making that call, it's a council call." County considers smoking ban May 11, 2006
JOHN ROSZKOWSKI
A divided Lake County Board passed a non-binding resolution endorsing a smoke-free Lake County by 2007. The board voted 14-9 Tuesday to endorse a resolution by the Lake County Board of Health lending support to municipalities who are considering smoking bans in places frequented by the public, such as restaurants or bars. While the resolution holds no actual weight, it could be the first step toward the establishment of a smoking ordinance for the unincorporated areas. "This is not a ban. We have no power to have a smoking ban, as of yet," said Board Member Steve Carlson, R-7th, of Gurnee. A bill that would give counties the authority to restrict smoking in unincorporated areas has passed both Houses of the General Assembly but is awaiting the governor's signature. Dale Galassie, executive director of the Lake County Health Department, said before considering smoking restrictions in unincorporated areas it would hold public hearings later this year to get input from affected parties, including restaurant and bar owners and residents. He said an ordinance likely will not come to the full county board for consideration until next year. In the meantime, he said the health department will encourage local villages and cities to adopt their own smoking ordinances. Several Lake County communities including Highland Park, Deerfield and Lincolnshire have passed smoking bans, and others are considering it. Some board members opposed the passage of the county's resolution, arguing it was a first step toward a broader countywide smoking ban. "I think we're overstepping," said Board Member Larry Leafblad, R-6th, of Grayslake. "Is this the government's business or is this somebody's personal business?" Proponents of smoking restrictions disagree, arguing second-hand smoke has negative health consequences for non-smokers and employees who work in bars and restaurants. "This is not about taking away anybody's rights, but we're also talking about everyone's right to breath in clean air," said Pam Newton, R-18th, of Vernon Hills.
Lake County backs smoke-free concept
Resolution isn't ban, but it supports action for a public policy
By Dave Wischnowsky
Tribune staff reporter
May 10, 2006
After much spirited discussion, the Lake County Board passed a resolution Tuesday supporting a Health Department proposal to make the county smoke-free by the end of 2007.
The resolution is not a ban on public smoking, several board members stressed repeatedly, but an effort to develop and encourage smoke-free policies throughout the county. However, some members voted against it because supporting the resolution would be prematurely weighing in on a public-smoking ban in the county, they said.
"I do believe it's taking a position before an ordinance is even before us," said board member Bonnie Thomson Carter.
Unlike Cook County, Lake County--like most in Illinois--does not have the power to approve smoking bans. That could soon change because a bill that would allow counties to impose bans in unincorporated areas has passed the state legislature and is on the desk of Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
If the governor does not veto the bill by the end of June, it would automatically become law, Lake County Health Department Executive Director Dale Galassie said Tuesday.
Galassie said he hopes the Lake County Board would bar smoking in unincorporated areas if given the power, which he expects.
In conjunction, the Health Department is working to persuade municipalities to approve their own public-smoking ordinances by the end of 2007, he said.
Some County Board members downplayed the impact of Tuesday's action.
"We're not ramming anything down anyone's throat at this point," said Robert Sabonjian. "We're just raising awareness on this issue."
Others, however, said the resolution's approval is a tell-tale sign.
"You can play semantics, but `smoke-free' means `no smoking,'" said Sandy Cole. "And if you want a definition, that's a ban."
Highland Park, Deerfield and Buffalo Grove are the only towns in Lake County with public-smoking bans. Vernon Hills and Lindenhurst are considering ordinances.
Galassie predicted the entire state would be smoke-free by 2008, and he expects the nation to largely follow suit by 2010. Thirteen states have already banned smoking in public places, he said.
Some board members said the pendulum of public opinion in Illinois already has swung in the direction of smoking ordinances.
"The train is on the tracks, and we have a choice to lead or to follow," said Steve Carlson. "Let's do the right thing. Let's lead."
But board member Diana O'Kelly said the duty, in this case, should fall on the shoulders of the legislature.
"I feel that we're in the position again of doing the state's job," she said.
In other action Tuesday, some County Board members found themselves on the defensive about their attendance records at county and forest preserve board meetings.
Before a vote on pay raises for board members, Lake County Conservation Alliance leader Susan Zingle read a report detailing the members' attendance at 2004-05 meetings.
Ranked last was David Stolman, with a 45 percent attendance rate. Angelo Kyle was next with a 61 percent rate.
Ann Maine had the best attendance rate at 95 percent, Zingle said.
The board voted 17-6 to give each member a 4 percent raise in each of the next four years. The county clerk, sheriff, regional superintendent of schools and treasurer received a similar raise.
County employees currently receive 3 percent annual raises.
Lake County Smokers' Fate Put To Vote Tuesday May 07, 2006 A resolution backing Board of Health initiatives to realize a "smoke-free Lake County by 2007 is scheduled for a County Board vote Tuesday. Read
Let personal choice decide smoking issue To “Blowing Smoke over proposed ban”: I’m afraid that you, like so many others, just don’t get it. You are confusing “necessary laws” with “interfering in personal lives.” People have to travel the roadways, so laws are necessary for everyone’s safety. Government buildings are paid for and used by the general public at one time or another, so laws and rules are necessary. We all understand this and support the premise. Now, however, let’s think about a restaurant/bar. Is it mandatory that you go into a restaurant? Is it mandatory that you go into a bar? I don’t think so. Do your tax dollars help pay the bills? On the contrary, these businesses pay thousands of dollars every year in licensing fees just for the privilege of being in business. There isn’t a single reason in the world why you have to enter a restaurant or bar unless you choose to. Correct? You cited two business owners — one who said 80 to 90 percent of her customers are smokers. You were very condescending in that the reason was because, “people who don’t smoke won’t patronize her establishment.” Then you cited another establishment that is entirely non-smoking as being such a good example as why a smoking ban would be okay. Guess what? You just showed that personal choice works. These business owners made their own decisions whether to be smoking or non-smoking, and they both have customers. It’s called free choice. If people smoke or don’t mind being around smoke, they will go to the smoking establishment. If people don’t like to be around smoke, they will go to the non-smoking establishment. If enough people make the choice to stop going to the smoking establishment, eventually the business owner will make a wise business decision and become non-smoking. This should be the business owner’s choice, not the government’s. Our money and our lives are invested in our businesses. We support our families with our businesses. We pay all the bills for our businesses. Why do you want to let the government have the right to mess with our lives? It shouldn’t matter to you one way or the other, because you are not required to step foot in our establishments. It’s strictly your choice. Are cigarettes bad for you? Yes they are. Are Big Macs and Whoppers bad for you? Yes they are. Are they all legal? Yes they are. Going to ban all three? It’s not time for more laws. It’s time for personal responsibility. Does anyone remember what that actually is? It means you decide what’s best for you and your family and you make decisions accordingly. It means your neighbors decide what’s best for their families and make decisions accordingly. For the record, I have not smoked in over 30 years. If I think a restaurant or bar is too smoky, I don’t go there. Big Macs and Whoppers? A few times a year. My choice! Pat Diebold Antioch President Lake County Tavern Owners Assn. ReadApril 24, 2006 Blowing smoke over proposed ban It is sad to see , once again, the village trustees of Antioch demonstrating their lack of vision as evidenced by their comments regarding the request by Lake County Health officials for Antioch to go “smoke free.” The same trustee who cried that people did not want to drive 15 minutes to go to the Wal-Mart in Gurnee is now saying that people will drive out of Antioch to smoke. The same trustee who comments on his heart problems won’t support a ban on smoking in restaurants despite the evidence that smoking is the worst thing that someone can do for his/her heart and lungs. A local restaurant owner states that a ban on smoking would affect her customers, 80 to 90 percent of whom smoke. Did she ever consider that 80 to 90 percent of her customers smoke because people who don’t smoke won’t patronize her establishment? The arguments against a smoking ban are that it will affect people’s livelihoods. Linda Binanti’s success with Taste of Italy demonstrates that if you have a product people want, they will support your business, even with a smoking ban. Mr. Pierce, the village board serves to regulate the choices of people every day with ordinances regulating how you build your porch, how fast you drive down the street and what trees you can cut down. There is so much hoopla about bringing more people to Antioch, with $25,000 spent on a new logo to encourage their visit. To visit our smoke filled restaurants? Regardless, aren’t the lives of the people of Antioch worth protecting? Mary Dominiak, RN Antioch ReadApril 10, 2006 Anti-smoking zealots imposing their will A recent letter writer asked, “What more evidence do mayors want?” regarding their not rushing to institute a smoking ban. It could be that they feel people should be able to make up their own minds, since smoking is not illegal. Non-smoking zealots aren’t satisfied. First it was separate sections in restaurants. Now most restaurants are either 100 percent smoke free or close to it so they don’t have that argument anymore. They instead want to tell other people how to live their lives. I enjoy an occasional cigar and cocktail before dinner and am at a loss to understand how this infringes on non-smokers since they have a choice whether or not to visit an establishment which allows smoking. Sounds an awful lot like the group we ousted in Afghanistan. Personally, I prefer democracy, where just because I don’t approve of something, I don’t feel the need to ban it. So now we should ban smoking because of the unfortunate death of Dana Reeve. While I have as much compassion as the next person for her, I don’t think it follows that a ban is in order. If it is, then by all means, we must ban the use of alcoholic drinks. If you doubt that alcohol affects other people, even those who don’t drink, just ask any of the relatives of those innocent people who have been killed or injured in auto crashes. With all the restrictions currently in place anyone who touts that they have a right to a smoke-free environment is correct, but if they can’t find places to eat, drink or other, then they just aren’t looking, but would rather dictate their wishes on other people. Surprising as it may seem, some people, including myself who enjoys an occasional cigar for example, can think for ourselves and don’t need government regulating our personal lives. Allen C. Kershner Wheeling Read
Lake County mulls idea of smoking bans
April 13, 2006
JOHN ROSZKOWSKI
Bar owner Donna Stewart worries when she hears talk of a ban on smoking in bars and restaurants in unincorporated areas of Lake County. "It would kill my business. I'll bet you over 95 percent of our customers smoke," said Stewart, owner of Bootlegger's Bar and Grill in unincorporated Antioch. It may be months before the county even considers such an idea, but the Lake County Board Health and Human Services Committee lent support to the concept by passing a non-binding resolution encouraging local municipalities to adopt their own smoking ordinances by 2007. The full board will vote on the resolution next month. County Board members say they would consider a smoking ordinance for the unincorporated areas later this year, if given the legislative authority to do so. A new bill awaiting the governor's signature would give counties the right to ban smoking in unincorporated areas, mirroring legislation passed last year which gave all cities and villages the authority to adopt smoking ordinances. "It's a health issue as far as I'm concerned," said Carol Spielman, R-22nd, of Highland Park, who said she would support a smoking ordinance for the unincorporated areas. Highland Park and Deerfield have enacted smoking bans and several other Lake County communities such as Buffalo Grove, Lincolnshire, Lindenhurst and Vernon Hills are considering it
Health officials want county to back ban Krishnamurthy
Daily Herald Staff Writer
April 05, 2006 Smokers beware. The days of lighting up in Lake County restaurants and bars might be numbered. Lake County is gearing up to becoming smoke-free by 2007, if health officials can persuade municipalities to enact bans and proposed legislation allowing counties to adopt similar bans becomes law. The county board’s health and human services committee unanimously endorsed a resolution Tuesday supporting health officials to urge municipalities to enact smoking bans. “One of the last frontiers where smoking is allowed is in the hospitality industry,” said Kris Andersen, coordinator for the Lake County Health Department’s Tobacco Free Lake County Program. “We consider this really a workplace issue. We think everyone has to be able to earn their wages in a smoke-free environment.” Beach Park tavern owner Corky Anderson doesn’t buy that. “I feel it is a health issue if the establishment does not have proper ventilation,” said Anderson, past vice president of the Lake County Tavern Owners, a chapter of the Illinois Licensed Beverage Association. “If they do pass a ban like that, it is going to hurt. You drive 10 minutes and you’re at another bar in Wisconsin that has smoking. We’re going to lose money.” Anderson says businesses should have the choice, not the county or individual towns. Lake County health officials are already working with several towns that are considering smoking bans modeled after ordinances adopted by Highland Park and Deerfield. Towns from Antioch to Buffalo Grove are studying their options. Having the county board’s support through the resolution would give their argument more authority, officials said. Health committee member Mary Ross Cunningham said she supports the measure even though she herself is a smoker. “I know it’s a killer,” she said. Officials acknowledged the resolution would not force municipalities to ban smoking. Rather, it is up to the health department to persuade individual towns to voluntarily adopt ordinances. County officials say the plan should be to level the playing field so no town has an advantage. But that may not be possible, said Dale Galassie, health department executive director. “Don’t kid yourself; there’s always a border,” he said. Even if the county were to go smoke-free, Wisconsin may not, he added. Cook County already has banned smoking in public places including restaurants, bars and bowling alleys. Lake County’s smoke-free resolution goes to the county board for approval May 9. Meanwhile, it could be just a matter of months before the county gets the authority to propose a smoke-free ordinance for unincorporated areas, which would affect about 150 restaurants and taverns. Legislation allowing the county to do just that has cleared the state House and Senate and now needs only the governor’s signature to become law. Galassie said he expects to propose a countywide smoke-free ordinance at the December county board meeting. Read
“This is not an individual choice issue,” Galassie said. “It’s the business we’re in. I think we’ve been very reasonable in giving people notice. It’s just time … (smoking) is simply not socially acceptable in the same manner as it once was.” ReadHow did we ever let all these petty dictator/social engineering puritans get into power? We are paying their salaries! Their time will come and go too. We can't fight them.....they are like the gigantic health control charities. We need to go after the people we can reach. Please write to or phone your legislators and local officials, before it is too late...... I think the Herald reporter wrote his story this way to make people aware of the total disregard this power freak, Galassie, really is. If they are really the Health Department, you would think they could take time to read the SHS studies and learn what they are talking about. All these places (hospital campuses included) are making exceptions for the mentally unstable. It just came up last week about what AA groups are experiencing in various parts of the county, where they can't smoke at many of their meetings. An 11 year AA welcoming committee member and disabled vet wrote to me about it........
Lake County smoking foes hail Cook ban By Dave Wischnowsky
Tribune staff reporter
March 17, 2006 The day Cook County passed an ordinance banning smoking in public places, officials from nine Lake County communities met with Health Department representatives to discuss the benefits of adopting local smoking bans. "I think public support for and interest in public-smoking regulations has never been stronger," said Bill Mays, director of community health services at the county Health Department, which co-sponsored the breakfast meeting in Lincolnshire with the American Heart Association. The Cook County Board voted 13-3 Wednesday to adopt a comprehensive smoking ban that will go into effect March 15, 2007. About 115 municipalities will be affected by the county ban but can opt out by adopting their own ordinances. Before the vote, Lake County health officials already were considering ways to curtail smoking. With the passing of Cook County's ban, however, the issue resonates even more with many in Lake County, particularly in communities such as Buffalo Grove that straddle county lines. Earlier this month, the Lake County Board of Health approved a resolution that encourages municipalities to make the entire county smoke-free by the end of 2007. The resolution will be presented March 28 to the Health and Human Services Committee before it goes to the County Board on April 11. Unlike Cook, Lake and most counties in the state can't enact smoking bans, Mays said. So health officials hope the resolution would help persuade the County Board to support legislation to allow counties to impose bans in unincorporated areas. That plan was approved by the Illinois Senate earlier this month and is up for consideration by the House. Health officials, meanwhile, are working to persuade individual municipalities to enact their own smoking bans. Highland Park and Deerfield are the only towns in Lake County with bans. "It's a dual effort we're making here," Mays said. Officials from Bannockburn, Deerfield, Highland Park, Lake Forest, Lincolnshire, Lindenhurst, Mundelein, Riverwoods and Vernon Hills attended Wednesday's meeting with county health officials. On Thursday, Mays expressed approval for Cook County's smoking ban. "I think anything that passes something stronger than what we already have is a victory for public health," Mays said. Some businesses along the border of Lake and Cook Counties expressed concern about the financial impact if Lake County does not also adopt a comprehensive smoking ban. "The ban's not really an issue for us because we already don't allow smoking in the restaurant," said Nico Garcia, 35, a manager at the Lou Malnati's Pizzeria on the Cook County side of Lake-Cook Road in Buffalo Grove. "But I think for bars [near the county line] it would be an issue. You could just cross Lake-Cook Road and be able to smoke up there."
How sneaky is this...
The meeting is being conducted away from media and public attention to avoid controversy for those towns considering a ban, Mays said.
- A Newsletter Reader ************************* County smoking ban urged by 2007
Health board to lobby towns, county board By Madhu Krishnamurthy
Daily Herald Staff Writer
March 09, 2006 Lake County may be smoke-free by 2007, if a county health board resolve becomes reality. The board of health approved a resolution Wednesday night to work with communities toward that end. “I think it will be a challenge,” said Bill Mays, health department director of community health services. “That’s why you set high goals. We don’t expect it to be easy.” The board of health resolution authorized the health department’s Tobacco Free Lake County program to pro-actively encourage municipalities to enact comprehensive smoking control ordinances. A new state law already gives individual municipalities the power to regulate smoking. So far, only two Lake County communities — Highland Park and Deerfield — have banned smoking in public places on their own. But several other towns, including Buffalo Grove, Lincolnshire, Lindenhurst, Round Lake Beach and Vernon Hills, are mulling similar bans. Health department staff is already working with communities that have sought information on becoming smoke-free. The department has sent letters to all Lake County municipalities and talked about the issue at village board meetings. Health officials are trying to get the Lake County Board to support the measure. Their initial plan was to present it at the board’s March 14 meeting. But board of health member Carol Spielman, who also is a county board member, said it would be better to first present the resolution to the county’s health and human services committee. “I’m very much in favor of it,” she said. “If we don’t have the opportunity to vet it a little bit before it goes to the (county) board, it could turn out to be a protracted discussion without necessarily assuring an outcome.” The resolution will go before the county board on April 11. County officials have said in the past they would like the authority to ban smoking in bars, restaurants and other public places. But the board has not taken any action. The DuPage County Board recently passed a resolution asking state lawmakers to give counties the power to adopt a smoking ban only in unincorporated areas. Such a plan was approved by the Illinois Senate last week and now goes to the House for consideration. Lake County is eager to see that legislation approved, but officials say they are moving forward in spite of it. The Lake County health department has invited the mayors of 12 municipalities from the southern part of the county to a closed-door meeting on March 15 to give them an overview of smoke-free ordinances. The meeting is being conducted away from media and public attention to avoid controversy for those towns considering a ban, Mays said. “In every city council that we’ve been in, there is a concern in the restaurant/tavern industry,” he said. “We’re hoping we can clear the air in terms of what opposition these municipalities may face by even researching whether to do this.” The mayors of Highland Park and Deerfield will address the group about how going smoke-free has affected their towns. “Testimony from these mayors can go a long way to convincing these other municipalities,” Mays said. |
