2008 Woodie Awards
Citywide Smoking Ban Passes In Landslide
Council Approves Ordinance 6-1 in It's Third Attempt
by Bronson Pettitt
- Page 1 of 1
The Mankato City Council approved a citywide smoking ban ordinance by a vote of 6-1 Monday.
The ban will prohibit smoking in bars, restaurants and all other enclosed public places.
The ordinance takes effect July 1, 2006. If establishments can prove they lose 15 percent of their business because of the ban, they may apply for a hardship exception, which will allow smoking in the property, until July 1, 2007.
The ban failed about two years ago when brought before the City Council and again in September 2004.
More than a dozen Mankato and North Mankato citizens, bar and restaurant owners and employees and physicians voiced their opinions at the meeting.
Mankato's Dan Wagner presented a petition with about 2,300 signatures against the ban.
"I believe personal issues should be left to individuals," Wagner said about smoking. "By voting [in favor of the ban] you are intruding on an owner's private property."
"I work in smoke every day because I chose to do it," said Mark Finney of North Mankato. Finney owns a business that provides services to bars and restaurants in the Mankato area. He added that customers and employees chose to expose themselves to smoky environments.
Robert Schwartz, another business owner who would be affected by the ban, said the hardship exception wouldn't be enough.
"You take away 15 percent of what I have and I don't have anything," Schwartz said.
Erin Simmons, of Mankato, said how public smoking affects her.
"I, as a parent, would like to bring my children to any restaurant," she said. Simmons, a member of the American Lung Association, explained how children are most vulnerable to secondhand smoke.
All the bar and restaurant owners voiced how the ban would hurt their businesses.
Gary McNab, owner of Mac's Bar and Cafe in Mankato, expressed his frustration with the ordinance.
"Why are we here for the third time?" he said. "Is this what we're going to do -- keep going until it passes?"
McNab said 90 percent of his customers smoke. He added that people have a choice if they want to expose themselves to smoky establishments.
Mankato physician Steve Penkhus explained how the city would benefit from the ban. Since airlines, theaters, taxis and other public places ban smoking, there hasn't been a significant decline in business.
Penkhus added that 1,700 cities and 11 states have smoking bans, and about 300 studies have shown that there has been no economic loss.
The ban does not apply to North Mankato and several proprietors worry that smokers will instead dine and drink there, giving North Mankato the competitive edge.
Ron Doty, McGoff's owner, said it is "very likely" Minnesota will pass a statewide smoking ban and Mankato should wait for a level playing field -- when every city in the state bans smoking.
Jeff Bukowski, a recent graduate of Bethany College, worked as a restaurant server in Mankato for four years.
"Secondhand smoke, after a seven-hour shift, being constantly blown in my face with cancer-causing asbestos and chemicals would make me sick for the whole next day," he said.
"I should have every right to sue because it's totally unfair. If I didn't quit I'd have cancer in two years," the former Applebee's employee said. "I beg for you to have the courage to vote this into effect so the citizens of Mankato can breath clean air, especially the workers and the children."
Bukowski's speech was the only one to receive applause from the audience.
Before the ordinance passed, Mike Laven, City Councilman At Large, proposed an amendment that would ban all tobacco sales in Mankato. The amendment failed by a 5-2 vote.
Bronson Pettitt is the Reporter assistant news editor