Omaha’s smoking ban proposal has been moved from the main track to a siding, where it may remain for weeks or months.
The Omaha City Council Tuesday refused to approve a total smoking ban and tabled a partial ban that would have allowed smoking in bars that had no food service.
“They didn’t kill it; they opted to do nothing,” said Dave Holmquist, director of government relations for the American Cancer Society in Nebraska.
But the issue will be back, promised City Councilman Marc Kraft, who brought the ban proposal to the council.
“It might be December or February. And if it fails at that time, we will be back with the new council (after spring elections),” he said.
“This is a setback and not a defeat. The issue is still alive,” said Holmquist, who works with the tobacco-free groups that have promoted total smoking bans in several Nebraska cities.
“I think eventually Omaha will go for a total ban. And I think the voters of Lincoln will vote for a total ban,” Holmquist said about Lincoln’s pending citywide vote.
Lincoln bar and restaurant owners mounted a successful petition drive to put the issue to a public vote after the city council approved a complete smoking ban.
Lincoln voters will decide between a total ban and a partial ban that would allow smoking in businesses where food makes up less than 60 percent of total sales.
“I think Lincoln has the opportunity to establish the framework for smoke-free communities in the state of Nebraska,” Holmquist said.
Anti-smoking advocates have been working in five Nebraska communities this year to promote total smoking bans. Lincoln is the only city where a council approved any kind of ban.
The Grand Island City Council agreed only to study the issue, and the Bellevue council is waiting for a statewide ban through the Legislature. A Cass County coalition is educating the public and Plattsmouth council members about the dangers of secondhand smoke and the need for smoking ban.
The Omaha council last week approved a resolution that asks the Legislature to set a statewide standard. Currently, cities can have smoking bans that are stricter that state law, which requires no-smoking areas in most restaurants and many bars.
Omaha smoke-free advocates will continue to work for a complete ban, said Molly Goedeker, coordinator for Smoke Free Omaha.
“We are going to move forward. It will be before the City Council again before the city’s elections next spring,” she said.
Originally written BY NANCY HICKS
Lincoln Journal Star
