Shop LocalThursday, November 4, 2010
Now that Fulton voters have given the okay to a ban on smoking inside city businesses, the Fulton City Council is set to enact an ordinance to help with enforcement of that ban.
Voters Tuesday approved Fresh Air Fulton’s question to prohibit smoking in enclosed places of employment, including restaurants and bars, with 53.85 percent of the vote. On Nov. 9, the council will hear first reading on a new ordinance based on Fresh Air Fulton’s proposal, with final approval likely to come in December.
“The ordinance as presented in the petition was placed in a city format this morning and we are anticipating first reading next week,” Fulton Director of Administration Bill Johnson said Wednesday, noting second reading is slated for Nov. 23, with third and final reading to take place at the Dec. 14 meeting. “The law takes effect 30 days after the ordinance is passed.
“At the latest, it should take effect sometime in mid-January.”
Assistant Director of Administration Matt Harline said Johnson and City Clerk Carolyn Laswell wrote the ordinance to “keep it as close as possible to the language of the petition.”
According to Fresh Air Fulton’s proposed ordinance, “smoking shall be prohibited in all enclosed places of employment within the City of Fulton, including but not limited to: Areas available to the general public in businesses patronized by the public, including but not limited to, banks, laundromats, professional offices, and retail establishments; bars; child care and adult day care facilities; convention facilities; educational facilities, both public and private; libraries and museums; restaurants; restrooms, lobbies, reception areas, hallways, stairways, break rooms, and other common-use areas; retail stores; and theaters.”
Also according to the Fresh Air Fulton ordinance, owners will be required to post “No Smoking” signs and remove ashtrays from areas where smoking is prohibited by the ordinance. Employers are not allowed to fire, refuse to hire or retaliate against an employee or customer “because that employee, applicant or customer exercises any rights afforded by this article.”
The Fresh Air Fulton proposal states: “An owner, manager, operator, or employee of an establishment regulated by this Article shall direct a person who is smoking to extinguish the product being smoked. If the person does not stop smoking, the owner, manager operator, or employee shall refuse service and shall immediately ask the person to leave the premises. If the person in violation refuses to leave the premises, the owner, manager, operator, or employee shall contact a law enforcement agency.”
Anyone who smokes in an area where smoking is prohibited will be guilty of an infraction, punishable by a fine not exceeding $50. Any person who owns, manages, operates or otherwise controls a public place or place of employment and fails to comply with the ordinance will be guilty of an infraction and fined up to $100 for the first violation, up to $200 for the second violation within one year and up to $500 for each additional violation within one year. According to the proposed ordinance violation of the ordinance by any person who owns, manages, operates or otherwise controls a public place or place of employment also “may result in the suspension or revocation of any permit or license issued to the person for the premises on which the violation occurred.”
Laswell said the council must approve the ordinance “because it was passed by a vote of the people.”
“It’s just a matter of procedure and means of enforcement,” she said of the draft ordinance to be presented on Nov. 9.
Once the ordinance receives final approval from the council, Johnson said the city will mail out a notice to everyone that has purchased a Fulton Business License whose business is within the city limits.
“Now that citizens have had a chance to vote, we will proceed with implementation,” he said.
Comments
rock1853 2 years, 6 months ago
Say goodbye to freedom. What's next salt? Eggs? Cheap cologne? Bad haircuts?
malmark 2 years, 5 months ago
as a former resident of the first country in Europe to implement smoking bans in all public places nationwide... I can now breathe a sigh of relief it is coming to a town near me :D I don't have a problem with people's freedom to smoke as long as it does not impinge on my freedom to not have to breathe their smoke too.
roadwarrior 2 years, 5 months ago
So how is Ireland doing now. I am pretty sure I just heard something about Ireland is broke. You may be able to breathe a sigh of relief that you are here and not there.
malmark 2 years, 5 months ago
Yeah we tried to be more like you, overextending credit and all the consequences of it that is racking the country today. We rode the same wave Bush did and this is where it got us.
malmark 2 years, 5 months ago
the ex president's public approval usually does improve after they leave office, but really could Bush's have gotten any worse before he left? Obama's is not descending as far as I know it's on the up. I think the "socialist policies" were a long time coming and they are needed more now than ever. How can you read this excerpt without wondering how we have gotten by this long without universal health coverage for example: The U.S. Census Bureau reported that a record 50.7 million Americans—16.7% of the population—were uninsured in 2009.[1] More money per person is spent on health care in the USA than in any other nation in the world,[2][3] and a greater percentage of total income in the nation is spent on health care in the USA than in any United Nations member state except for East Timor.[3] Despite the fact that not all people in America are insured, the USA has the third highest public healthcare expenditure per capita, because of the high cost of medical care and utilization today.[4][5] A 2001 study in five states found that medical debt contributed to 46.2% of all personal bankruptcies and in 2007, 62.1% of filers for bankruptcies claimed high medical expenses.[6] Since then, health costs and the numbers of uninsured and underinsured have increased
ConcernedCitizen 2 years, 5 months ago
Socialists are the enemy of the U.S.? Really, what about England and other European countries? Are they hostile towards us? Socialist policies fail every time they are tried? Really!? I'm pretty sure the public library system still works, so do police departments, fire departments, etc, and like I said I think many countries in Europe would disagree. I think we have a difference of understand on what socialism means. To me socialism generally means a recognition that we're all in this together. We're all Americans, if we can help each other and share resources then we should do it because what is good for you is good for me. Yet somehow all the people who are the first to proclaim their pride at being American are the first ones unwilling to share to help their less fortunate fellow Americans. So that's what socialism means to me and is my understanding of it, maybe you can explain what it means to you exactly?
malmark 2 years, 5 months ago
@Graceful, that is exactly what I'm trying to say, it wouldn't be a big deal if we were talking about a small group of people filing bankruptcy but just look at these statistics..1.6million filed in the month ending Sept, 2010. That's not a small number of people and that includes joint filers meaning the number is actually higher. Statistics are from the Administrative Office of the Courts
Business and Non-Business Filings Years Ended September 30, 2006-2010
Year
Total Non-Business Business 2010 1,596,355 1,538,033 58,322 2009 1,402,816 1,344,095 58,721 2008 1,042,993 1,004,342 38,651 2007 801,269 775,344 25,925 2006 1,112,542 1,085,209 27,333
roadwarrior 2 years, 5 months ago
WOW you are way off track on what Socialism is. You should read this book...A Simple Guide: How Liberberalism, a Euphemism for Socialism, Destroys Peoples and Nations
ConcernedCitizen 2 years, 5 months ago
Yeah, that book doesn't sound like it starts off with a biased perspective, but I'm sure it told you exactly what you wanted to hear.
ConcernedCitizen 2 years, 5 months ago
Also, just an FYI, here are the dictionary definitions of socialism and liberalism. They do not mean the same thing or even imply the same thing. To even suggest that liberalism is a euphemism seems to be a blatant attempt to distort what socialism means and link it to the conservative effort to make "liberal" a bad word.
Socialism - a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole.
Liberalism - a political or social philosophy advocating the freedom of the individual, parliamentary systems of government, nonviolent modification of political, social, or economic inst1tutions to a55ure unrestricted development in all spheres of human endeavor, and governmental guarantees of individual rights and civil liberties.
PS - The word filter on this site is ridiculous. That's why I had to use number subst1tutions.
ConcernedCitizen 2 years, 5 months ago
You can't just say that Police and Fire departments are socialist programs "as that term is understood". If those are not socialist programs then you have a misunderstanding of the term.
Last time I checked this was the UNITED States of America. If we don't work together there is no society. Cooperation is the foundation of our success as a species, turning our backs on that is suicide. Your pessimistic view on the human condition is irrelevant in the context we're talking about, but it does tell me more about your world view.
Also, the American people are not the most generous in history, we are the most paternalistic. We use aid to maintain cla55 systems and allow ourselves to keep 3rd world countries from revolting while we pillage their natural resources, and we use welfare to keep our own poor placated.
ConcernedCitizen 2 years, 5 months ago
Christianity and all religions are just means to social control, of which you have clearly allowed yourself to be subjugated to. Free your mind and the rest will follow.
ConcernedCitizen 2 years, 5 months ago
The belief that religion is fundamental to morality is bogus. More people have been killed in god's name than any other reason. Besides, you've only seen one side of the issue, how can you know anything about what it's like to not be brainwashed? You were raised that way.
I also think it's funny that you're saying non-religious people like myself are selfish, when what we were originally arguing about was that I believe people should act more cooperatively and you arguing they should act more compet1tively, ie selfishly.
Also, this will be my last post on the subject. I have more productive things I could be doing, like bashing my head against a brick wall.
fultonian 2 years, 5 months ago
Please do bash your head against a brick wall. After all if there is no higher power and no purpose to life what's it all worth anyways?? Maybe you should just do yourself a favor and end the suffering now. But wait, let me guess. Are you spiritual, just not religious? you can find god in nature or something like that? Or are you one of the elitist liberals who don't believe in a God? Your ideas and views are so tired and worn out. You "feel" smarter because you haven't been "brainwashed" but how would you know if you have been brainwashed? If one was truly tricked into believing or not believing something they wouldn't know it. But whatever, I guess if you're right you won't be able to prove it in the afterlife!
ConcernedCitizen 2 years, 5 months ago
It's called being open-minded, but I appreciate your christ-like response. It reaffirms the beliefs I do hold.
ConcernedCitizen 2 years, 5 months ago
Rationality went out the window when you invited religion into the discussion.
malmark 2 years, 3 months ago
Are you implying that people who have no religion are immoral?
malmark 2 years, 3 months ago
I agree with the statement that morality can carry over from person to person, as I said in one of my previous comments. But I do not believe that morality is learned singularly through religion. I do not know if I agree with the statement that we are truly becoming more immoral, either.
malmark 2 years, 3 months ago
And yes before anyone comments on it, I am copying and pasting again to reinforce my opinion. "Human morality, though sophisticated and complex relative to other animals, is essentially a natural phenomenon that evolved to restrict excessive individualism and foster human cooperation." ^ Shermer, Michael. "Transcendent Morality". The Science of Good and Evil. ISBN 0805075208 I'm sure you can get access to it at your library.
malmark 2 years, 3 months ago
I would like to see the proof showing America has been the most generous nation in history. In what context are you making this claim?
malmark 2 years, 5 months ago
Insulting my country/national ident-ity is not a good way to make your argument and is off topic. I was drawing on my life experiences living in a foreign country which was relevant to the article.
MOnativeinFL 2 years, 6 months ago
Ah, it's not all that bad, Rock. I'm a smoker and live in the FL Panhandle. We've had non-smoking establishments for years now, and to be honest with ya, aside from the typical karaoke bars/sports bars that still allow smoking in their establishments, it's kind of nice to leave for the night and not smell like an ashtray.
publichealth22 2 years, 6 months ago
I have a feeling eggs are next on the list, right after bacon.
malmark 2 years, 5 months ago
Just be glad you don't live in New York... I hear they banned trans fats in the fast food...oh wait... maybe that's a good thing...
malmark 2 years, 5 months ago
actually it is the government's business as the burden of caring for people with disabilities and diseases related to their obesity falls on them and everyone else who pays insurance. Everybody pays for other people's choices that are detrimental to their health.
malmark 2 years, 5 months ago
even when you don't buy into the insurance, just by living here you pay the costs too. Who do you think foots the bill for the uninsured?
malmark 2 years, 5 months ago
i don't think we are talking about "everything" I think we are talking about insurance right now where it is obvious to everyone including the rest of the world that America has a problem in this industry.
malmark 2 years, 5 months ago
@Graceful you strike me as a very insecure individual who needs religion to provide you with what should come instinctively and through life experience; morals, and I'm glad I don't know you personally. Maybe they're meddling in our healthcare because we all think we have the best healthcare system in the world... oh wait... the UN ranks us 37th, what a bummer.
malmark 2 years, 3 months ago
You are right one one aspect of your argument, the recipients of medical care are not involved enough in the payment for services. I think smokers should have to pay more taxes on their cigarettes to offset the cost of providing medical service to them for their smoking illnesses and everyone elses who they inflict it upon. Thanks Graceful. Good point. Here's a cookie.
malmark 2 years, 3 months ago
37th....
malmark 2 years, 3 months ago
I think you are confused. Some people would argue that it's impossible for us to rank 37th, since we can perform many types of surgeries and procedures with favourable outcomes many times better than other developed countries healthcare systems, how could we be 37th? I would be the first one to admit that many people travel to America to have procedures performed that cannot be done in their own country (if they have the money), but this is not how the healthcare system was ranked in the WHO study. For more information see ht-tp://w-w-w.who.int/whr/2000/media_centre/press_release/en/index.html
malmark 2 years, 3 months ago
That's funny I don't consider myself anti-capitalist or anti-American and I can still see the obvious facts for myself. How were the criteria 'skewed'? The study was broad and encompassed many factors to determine the state of our health care system, not focussing on any one factor that we or any other country did/did not excel in.
malmark 2 years, 5 months ago
@ConcernedCitizen don't bash your head off the wall or you'll end up like the rest of them.
malmark 2 years, 5 months ago
@Fultonian we're here because we're here and I won't be taking a leap of faith until someone proves otherwise.
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