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March 5, 2015
TO THE PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA:
I am hereby returning to your Honorable Body, without my signature, Bill Nos. 140517, 140635, 140649 and 140886, all of which passed City Council on February 19, 2015. Each bill would authorize certain establishments to obtain an exemption from the City's Clean Indoor Air Worker Protection Law of 2007.
It has been a key priority of my Administration to ensure the health of all Philadelphians and visitors to our City. These four bills, while narrow in scope, create new exceptions to a policy that should be as uniform as possible. The Surgeon General has found that with regard to non-smokers, secondhand smoke increases the risk for, and can cause, cancer, heart attacks, emphysema, and strokes. Secondhand smoke is bad for you, whether or not the establishment you work in or patronize has a waiver to this law.
Nevertheless, it is my hope that together, we ca end these loopholes. In contrast to these four bills, I look forward to signing Bill No. 150090 introduced by Councilwoman Marian B. Tasco, and co-sponsored by numerous members. Bill No. 150090 will definitively end waivers going forward, and solidify our promise to the workers and business patrons of Philadelphia that we stand for their health.
Respectfully,
Michael A. Nutter
Mayor