By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-795777.mp3
Dallas, TX – New smoking restrictions are closer to a vote at Dallas City Hall. KERA's BJ Austin reports.
A special ad hoc City Council committee debated several remaining issues on the way to finalizing a rougher smoking ban for Dallas. The chief aim is a ban on smoking in all indoor places - including stand alone bars and billiard halls. Another recommendation is no smoking within 15 feet of the entrance to a public building, but it allows it on outdoor patios. Bob Allen, owner of the West End Pub, warned that business would be lost to the suburbs if this passes.
Allen: The economic climate we live in, we cannot afford to lose even 20 customers to cities around us who do not have a smoking ban. We cannot afford to lose one convention.
Karen Potasnik, Chair of Smoke Free Dallas waved a letter from the Convention and Visitors Bureau citing NO adverse reaction to the 2003 smoking ban.
Postasnik: The American Heart Association has chosen Dallas as its conference location, bringing 30 thousand attendees in 2005, 2009, and 2013.
A vote on the full council on a tougher smoking ban in Dallas is set for December 10th.