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Requesting that Mayor John F. Street provide City Council and the citizens of this City with his proposed smoke-free ordinance, as there is clearly a legislative impasse on this important issue; and, acknowledging that Mayor Street's leadership and direction on this issue is needed in order to create healthier work and leisure environments for thousands of Philadelphians and suburban residents who work in and visit Philadelphia; and, furthermore, given Mayor Street's long-standing commitment to public health and concerns about the dangers of secondhand smoke, he should be the champion of this monumental public health initiative for our City.
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WHEREAS, Cities and states across the United States, such as New York City, California and Delaware have enacted smoke-free laws; and similar measures are pending in New Jersey, Washington DC, and Chicago; and
WHEREAS, There is no debate over the negative health consequences from exposure to secondhand smoke. As long ago as 1986, the U.S. Surgeon General concluded that exposure to secondhand smoke can cause lung cancer in healthy nonsmokers; and
WHEREAS, Secondhand smoke is a known cause of lung cancer, heart disease, chronic lung ailments -- such as bronchitis and asthma (particularly in children)-- and, low birth weights; and
WHEREAS, Smokers employed in locations with strong smoke-free workplace laws were 38% more likely to quit smoking than those employed in regions with no such laws in effect; and
WHEREAS, A comprehensive review of all available studies on the economic impact of smoke-free workplace laws concluded that these measures have no impact on sales or employment within bars and restaurants; and
WHEREAS, The 2005 Zagat Survey found that 83% of Philadelphia restaurant patrons think smoking should be prohibited; and
WHEREAS, Ventilation devices are very expensive to retrofit into...
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