(Smoke-Free St. Louis City)

At public hearing, support is strong for smoking ban in Clayton
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
04/29/2009, By Margaret Gillerman

CLAYTON -- Anti-smoking advocates, parents, students and other residents turned out in force Tuesday to tell their city leaders -- first at a rally and then at a public hearing -- that they wanted them to enact a smoking ban.

At a rally outside City Hall, Clayton High School students and younger schoolchildren waved posters that read "Honk if you want a smoke-free Clayton." And many drivers honked.

A few dozen parents and other advocates -- including representatives of the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association and American Lung Association -- cheered on the students and carried their own handmade signs against smoking.

The rally, organized by a group calling itself Smoke-Free Clayton, was followed by a public hearing for residents on the proposed smoking ban inside City Hall before the Board of Aldermen.

Nearly all of about 20 people who spoke in the packed council chamber expressed strong support for a smoking ban in public places that is being considered by the board.

Three speakers disagreed. They said they believed in allowing restaurant owners to set their own policy and letting patrons choose where they want to dine.

"Hopefully, individual businesses will be able to choose their own destiny," said Dominic Bertani, a longtime resident and owner of a hair salon.

A coalition of Clayton restaurants opposes a smoking ban. There will be a separate public hearing on May 12 for local businesses -- including the restaurant owners -- and people who work in Clayton to voice their opinions.

Clayton Mayor Linda Goldstein said she wants to hear from all sides before taking action. "We want to be very inclusive," she said.

At Tuesday's hearing, several physicians spoke about the health risks of smoking.

"We should not wait for other communities or legislative jurisdictions to act," said Dr. Jerry Cohen, a cardiologist and a professor emeritus at St. Louis University. "Clayton should be out in front; we should be leaders and we will no doubt find that other communities will follow us."

Resident Barry Freedman cited some of the many communities -- some in Missouri -- and states that already ban smoking in restaurants.

"This is really a public health issue," he said. "Is the health of Clayton's citizens less important than the citizens of New York or California or our neighboring state of Illinois or any of the other states that have enacted smoke-free laws?"

Among the other speakers was Siobhan Jones, a senior at Clayton High School. Jones said that students learn about the health hazards of smoking in school.

"But then we go to the restaurants in Clayton and we are bombarded with secondhand smoke." she said. She urged the board to "reinforce what we learn in school."

Suzanne Langlois, a Clayton resident who attended the rally and hearing, said: "Everybody has the right to breathe clean air, fundamentally."

U.S. Surgeon General Report

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