A Tucson restaurant is the first to close as a result of the new state-wide smoking ban.
Arizona county proposes hiring ban, extra charges for smokers
Aug 6, 2014
BY DAVID SCHWARTZ
(Reuters) – Smokers seeking a job in one Arizona county need not apply and current employees would pay the price for lighting up under a controversial proposal by its top administrator.
Pima County Manager Chuck Huckelberry said the proposed smoking ban for new employees, and medical insurance surcharges of up to 50 percent for current employees who use tobacco, is a matter of dollars and common sense.
“This proposal is based on years of research regarding the negative effects of tobacco and nicotine on the health of individuals,” Huckelberry said in a memo to the county board of supervisors late last month, “and the staggering costs to employers providing health coverage.”
Under the new initiative, applicants for county jobs would have to sign an affidavit saying that they have been tobacco- and nicotine-free for one year and pass a test to prove it. A failed test could be taken again.
The unsuccessful applicant then would be banned from applying again for a county job for another year. The new hire part of the plan would take effect next Jan. 1.
Current employees also would be tested to confirm that they are tobacco- and nicotine-free, according to the proposal.
Those employees who fail or do not take the test would have to pay a 30 percent premium surcharge after July 1, 2015. It would be increased by 10 percent annually until it reaches 50 percent.
About 32 percent of county workers smoke, according to the memo. The southern Arizona county already bans smoking on its property under a policy that went into effect in January, 2013.
A u nion organizer told Reuters on Wednesday that his group, which represents about 4,000 county employees, opposes the plan.
Art Mendoza, an organizer with the Service Employees International U nion Arizona Local 48, said there are better ways to accomplish the county’s goals in a “less invasive way,” and that the proposals could lead to other surcharges and practices that could adversely impact employees.
The new restrictions must be approved by the county Board of Supervisors, which could get the proposal in October.
Aug 6, 2014
BY DAVID SCHWARTZ
(Reuters) – Smokers seeking a job in one Arizona county need not apply and current employees would pay the price for lighting up under a controversial proposal by its top administrator.
Pima County Manager Chuck Huckelberry said the proposed smoking ban for new employees, and medical insurance surcharges of up to 50 percent for current employees who use tobacco, is a matter of dollars and common sense.
“This proposal is based on years of research regarding the negative effects of tobacco and nicotine on the health of individuals,” Huckelberry said in a memo to the county board of supervisors late last month, “and the staggering costs to employers providing health coverage.”
Under the new initiative, applicants for county jobs would have to sign an affidavit saying that they have been tobacco- and nicotine-free for one year and pass a test to prove it. A failed test could be taken again.
The unsuccessful applicant then would be banned from applying again for a county job for another year. The new hire part of the plan would take effect next Jan. 1.
Current employees also would be tested to confirm that they are tobacco- and nicotine-free, according to the proposal.
Those employees who fail or do not take the test would have to pay a 30 percent premium surcharge after July 1, 2015. It would be increased by 10 percent annually until it reaches 50 percent.
About 32 percent of county workers smoke, according to the memo. The southern Arizona county already bans smoking on its property under a policy that went into effect in January, 2013.
A u nion organizer told Reuters on Wednesday that his group, which represents about 4,000 county employees, opposes the plan.
Art Mendoza, an organizer with the Service Employees International U nion Arizona Local 48, said there are better ways to accomplish the county’s goals in a “less invasive way,” and that the proposals could lead to other surcharges and practices that could adversely impact employees.
The new restrictions must be approved by the county Board of Supervisors, which could get the proposal in October.
(See below for Chuck Huckleberry article from 2004.)
First Restaurant Closes Because of Smoking Ban
July 9th, 2007
by Doug Ramsey/KTAR
by Doug Ramsey/KTAR
A Tucson restaurant is the first to close as a result of the new state-wide smoking ban.
Famous Sam’s on 29th Street was already having financial problems when the smoking ban helped kill bar sales.
“Famous Sam’s is the only one that I have heard that has, unfortunately, had to close,” said Steve Chucri, of the Restaurant Association. “There have been a handful across the state, especially in some of the rural areas, that have been struggling. But we’re hopeful that things will pick up for them.”
Statewide, restaurants have adapted well since the ban took effect May 1.
“All in all, we’ve seen this as a success,” said Chucri.
Most owners either had patios, were able to build them. “People who would like to smoke are able to smoke on patios,” he said.
According to Chucri, the smoking ban is only seriously hurting a handful of other restaurants across the state, most of which are in rural areas and cater to older customers.
Smoking ban is an extremist effort
Apr. 21, 2006?
Benjamin Barr, Gilbert?
Most of us enjoy clean air, which may be why The Arizona Republic’s “Free your world of secondhand smoke” editorial Wednesday makes sense at first glance.
Getting rid of secondhand smoke in shared public spaces such as courthouses, municipal buildings and post offices makes sense.
No one should be forced to breathe another person’s toxic fumes. Fortunately, Arizona law has already remedied this by prohibiting smoking in any buildings owned or leased by the state.
The problem with the Smoke Free Arizona initiative is that it bans smoking in private establishments, places where people may choose to come or go as they wish.
The Smoke Free Arizona initiative is an extremist proposal that would prohibit a perfectly legal activity, smoking, on private property.
Smoking ban could be imposed near entrances to county-owned buildings
Oct. 27, 2004
TUCSON – Pima County employees could soon be banned from smoking within 25 feet of entrances to county-owned buildings.
The county’s Health Department expects to send a formal proposal next week to County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry to declare such areas off-limits to smokers.
Huckelberry can impose the ban without a Board of Supervisors vote because it’s an administrative issue within his purview. advertisement
Smoking is currently banned inside all county buildings.
A petition signed by more than 300 county employees led to the proposed ban.
The ban would apply only to the county’s 7,000 employees.
Huckelberry, a non-smoker, said he may recommend that the Board of Supervisors extend the ban to the general public if county officials can figure out how to legally enforce it.
