Smoking Bans Should Be Statewide

Over a year ago the City of Milwaukee considered a smoking ban in all workplaces but it still lies in committee. If you look at a map of the 13th District, you will see it is a peninsula surrounded by St. Francis, Cudahy, South Milwaukee, Oak Creek, Franklin and Greenfield. A smoking ban in Milwaukee only would mean that our hospitality industry would be at a disadvantage, since most people would be less than a two-minute drive to a neighboring city. 

The state is considering a statewide workplace-smoking ban. I offered a resolution to put the city on record as supporting the statewide ban that would level the playing field for all businesses. The full Common Council went on record in April as supporting that statewide ban. A statewide rule will provide uniformity and ensure that no community's businesses are left at a competitive disadvantage.