But, based on some public sentiments expressed by businesses in the past, it appears that the ordinance’s short-term effect would merely induce some ardent smokers to spend their evenings at home.
Santa Fe city councilor seeks smoking ban
July 13, 2014
A Santa Fe city councilor wants to ban smoking in parks and at the historic plaza area.
Councilor Ron Trujillo has taken some criticism for the idea, which would also include a ban on electronic cigarettes and chewing tobacco.
He told the Santa Fe New Mexican that he is open to find a comprisable solution.
A public hearing is scheduled for next month.
Group wants Wi-Fi banned from public buildings
05/20/2008
A group in Santa Fe says the city is discriminating against them because they say that they’re allergic to the wireless Internet signal. And now they want Wi-Fi banned from public buildings.
Arthur Firstenberg says he is highly sensitive to certain types of electric fields, including wireless Internet and cell phones.
“I get chest pain and it doesn’t go away right away,” he said.
Firstenberg and dozens of other electro-sensitive people in Santa Fe claim that putting up Wi-Fi in public places is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The city attorney is now checking to see if putting up Wi-Fi could be considered discrimination.
But City Councilor Ron Trujillo says the areas are already saturated with wireless Internet.
“It’s not 1692, it’s 2008. Santa Fe needs to embrace this technology, it’s not going away,” Trujillo said.
The city attorney hopes to have a legal recommendation by the end of the month.
Complaints show puffs of resistance to smoking ban
August 31, 2006
Tom Sharpe
Tom Sharpe
City officials have handled a steady stream of complaints and questions about the no-smoking ordinance since it went into effect two months ago.
Some are reporting smokers in the patios of bars and near the entrances of businesses. Others just want to complain about the ordinance.
Sevastian Gurul? of the city’s Constituent Services Office said most of the complaints came in the first weeks after the ordinance went into effect June 30.
In response, the city hired two inspectors — Thomas Herrera and Jack Barela — to check bars, restaurants and other businesses for compliance with the new ordinance.
So far, city inspectors have given only verbal warnings. On Friday, they’ll begin citing violators into Municipal Court. Citations carry a fine of up to $500.
Santa Fe has banned smoking in restaurants and most other public places since 1999. But until the new ordinance, full-service bars and outdoor dining areas were exempt. The only exemptions now are tobacco stores, cigar bars and up to 20 percent of rooms in hotels. The new law also bans smoking within 25 feet of businesses entrances and requires removal of smoking paraphernalia.
The City Clerk’s Office on Wednesday turned over to The New Mexican 30 recent inquiries about the new law.
Starbucks Coffee, 191 Paseo de Peralta, and Willee’s Blues Club, 401 S. Guadalupe St., had the most complaints, with four each.
People complained about smoking on the patio of the Starbucks at DeVargas Center as well as near the mall’s main entrance. No one at the Starbucks was available for comment. According to the complaint forms, managers said they did not think the ordinance applied because they do “not consider the business an eating establishment” and find it difficult to control customers on the patio. City inspectors said they left copies of the ordinance and no-smoking signs.
In one case, a manager of the Cowgirl Hall of Fame Restaurant, 319 S. Guadalupe St., which was cited once for violating the ordinance, called to say Willee’s was “openly not complying.” A woman who answered the phone at Willee’s on Wednesday declined comment.
Another caller alleged that workers and patrons were smoking inside the Green Onion Tavern, 1851 St. Michael’s Drive, and was told “the city will have to come after us.”
But Helen Potter, a manager at the bar, said they had removed all ashtrays and were instructing smokers to stay at least 25 feet from the entrance, as required by the law.
Nevertheless, Potter, a smoker, added, “People should mind their own business and let people be. … Businesses ought to make their own rules and regulations, and the City Council should mind their own damn business.”
Another caller told city officials that Zele Caffe, 201 Galisteo St., “will be doing a civil disobedience and allowing their customers to smoke.” A man who answered the phone there Wednesday said he had heard that some customers planned to smoke in the patio after the shop was closed.
One inquiry indicated Al Lucero, owner of Maria’s New Mexican Kitchen, 555 Cordova Road, had asked to speak directly to the city manager about the law. But Lucero said Wednesday that he had no problem and just wanted to get more information.
“It’s fine,” he said. “We have more cleanup outside (because of) people throwing their butts out. Then again, if you put a receptacle out, it’s going to cluster a bunch of people smoking. So we just sweep up every morning. … I’d say (the ordinance is) probably long overdue.”
Smoking ban violators to face fines in Santa Fe
08/31/2006
SANTA FE – A raft of complaints and questions about Santa Fe’s smoking ban have been lodged since the ordinance went into effect about two months ago.
Sevastian Gurule of the city’s constituent services office says most of the complaints came in the first weeks after the ordinance went into effect June 30th.
In response, the city hired two inspectors to check bars, restaurants and other businesses for compliance.
So far, city inspectors have given only verbal warnings. They’ll begin citing violators Friday. Citations carry a fine of up to $500.
Santa Fe has banned smoking in restaurants and most other public places since 1999.
Full-service bars and outdoor dining areas were exempt until the new ordinance took effect. Now, the only exemptions are tobacco stores, cigar bars and some hotel rooms.
In Brief: Santa Fe smoking ban; Los Alamos Labs; enrichment plant
June 1, 2006
Smoking ban starts soon in Santa Fe
SANTA FE – City councilors have banned smoking in bars and restaurants, including outdoor dining areas.
By unanimous vote, the council voted Wednesday to put the ban into effect in 30 days.
Edgewood, Roswell and Do?a Ana County also ban smoking in workplaces, including bars and restaurants. Albuquerque bans smoking in restaurants but makes an exception for stand-alone bars.
The bill was promoted as a workers’ rights issue and stemmed from complaints from bar and restaurant employees and entertainers.
The bill also requires that people stay at least 25 feet away from doorways if they’re smoking. Cigar bars are exempt from the ban.
Los Alamos Lab transition complete
LOS ALAMOS – A new management team has taken over at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Los Alamos National Security, a team affiliated with Bechtel Corp. and the lab’s former sole manager, the University of California, took over at midnight Thursday.
The lab’s management contract was put out for bid after a series of security lapses and allegations of fraud and mismanagement at the nuclear weapons lab. The Bechtel-UC team was given the new contract in December.
Enrichment plant gets tentative OK
HOBBS – Federal officials have cleared one of the last legal hurdles for the construction of a $1.4 billion uranium enrichment plant.
Critics had argued that waste disposal costs could leave New Mexico stuck with the project’s nuclear waste.
But the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board ruled Wednesday that uncertainties over waste disposal costs are irrelevant.
The enrichment plant must be licensed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission before it could be built. A final ruling on the plant’s license is expected later this month.
Proposed Santa Fe ordinance seeks smoking ban
April 10, 2006
An amendment introduced Wednesday during the Santa Fe City Council meeting would eliminate smoking from all public workplaces, including eating and drinking establishments.
The amendment, introduced by City Councilor Patti Bushee, is an expansion of Santa Fe’s 1999 Smoking Pollution Control Ordinance. It excluded bars, taverns and pubs operating with a full-service liquor license, including those at restaurants. Although the legislation must be heard by numerous committees and at a public session before returning to the council for a final vote, that could happen as early as May.
If the new ordinance passes, it will be easier to assess the economic consequences a full smoking ban will have on Santa Fe’s economy. But, based on some public sentiments expressed by businesses in the past, it appears that the ordinance’s short-term effect would merely induce some ardent smokers to spend their evenings at home.
Numerous states have already adopted statewide smoking bans, including Colorado, whose governor signed a measure last month banning smoking in bars, restaurants and most work places.
The Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce could not be reached for comment.
The American Cancer Society says New Mexico cities that have effectively banned smoking, like Roswell, have seen increased gross receipts and revenue within the first year of activating such legislation.
