Rybak to Support Smoking Task Force Recommendation Recommendation bans smoking in bars and restaurants March 31, ‘05
Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak will support the recommendations of the Smoking Task Force to ban smoking in bars and restaurants starting on March 31, 2005. The Mayor has pledged to sign the ordinance, which is expected to be voted on by the City Council this Friday, June 23.
“I’m proud of Minneapolis for dealing this in a thoughtful way by bringing everyone – advocates, policy makers and the hospitality industry -- to the table. While the solution may not be everyone’s first choice, it is clear and simple, workable for the city to enforce and fair for all businesses. It also gives business owners time to adjust. I hope we’re showing that you can make progress by bringing everyone to the table.” Mayor Rybak said.
Mayor Rybak had asked the Task Force to look into the possibility of having restaurants go first with a ban this fall, with bars to follow later. However, because of the way Minneapolis licences establishments, there was no clear line between the two and it proved difficult to implement. The Mayor supports the task force’s recommendation that the city implement the ban in both types of establishments at the later date proposed in March.
“The most important step now is to continue our work with our partners at Hennepin County to pass a county-wide ban to take effect at the same time. A regional ban would be more effective and would not put our local businesses at a competitive disadvantage,” Mayor Rybak said.
The Mayor has also urged the advocacy community to help the hospitality industry through this transition.
“In return for helping to pass this, I am strongly urging the advocacy community to use their tremendous grassroots organizing skills to put together an aggressive marketing campaign to turn out new customers to replace the ones that will be lost in transition,” Mayor Rybak said.
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