New Smoke Free Indy Poll Released
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 21, 2010
70% of Indianapolis Voters Support Law Making Bars, Restaurants And Other Workplaces Smoke-Free
Voters back measure to protect workers and customers from secondhand smoke
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (July 21, 2010) – A new poll released today finds that 70 percent of Indianapolis voters support passing a law to make all restaurants, bars and other workplaces smoke-free. The poll shows broad support for the law, including large majorities of men and women, whites and African-Americans, and Democrats and Republicans across Indianapolis.
“Now is the time for the City-County Council and Mayor to reconsider what a significant majority of Indianapolis voters desire - to have all restaurants, bars, and other workplaces be smoke-free. Voters agree that Indianapolis should protect all of its workers and customers from harmful secondhand smoke and join the growing list of great cities that have gone smoke-free,” said Vincent C. Caponi, CEO, St. Vincent Health.
The survey of 500 likely Indianapolis voters was released by Smoke Free Indy and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Smoke Free Indy is a coalition of public health organizations, community-based groups, physicians, businesses, schools, the faith community, and Marion County residents.
By a 70 percent to 27 percent margin, the poll found that voters support a law in Indianapolis that would prohibit smoking in most public places, including workplaces, public buildings, offices, bowling alleys, restaurants and bars. This includes fifty-six percent who strongly favor the law. Support cuts across party lines, including 63 percent of Republicans, 67 percent of Independents and 78 percent of Democrats.
The survey also found among Indianapolis voters:
• By a margin of 62 to 27 percent, voters are more likely to support a candidate who supports the smoke free law over one who opposes it.
• 84 percent believe that secondhand smoke is a health hazard, including 58 percent who say it is a serious health hazard.
• 72 percent believe that the right of customers and employees to breathe clean air in restaurants and bars is more important than the right of smokers to smoke and businesses owners to allow smoking.
• 80 percent believe all workers should be protected from exposure to secondhand smoke.
• 86 percent say bar and restaurant workers have the same right to breathe clean air as office employees.
“Voters recognize what the Surgeon General’s report found, that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke, and they want a strong law that protects their right and the right of all workers to breathe clean air. People across Indianapolis understand that it is wrong to force workers to choose between their jobs and their health,” said Dr. Ray Henderson, currently practicing cardiologist and Immediate Past President, Indiana Black Expo Board of Directors.
To date, 550 cities across the country have passed smoke-free laws that include restaurants and bars. Of the 20 largest U.S. cities, 15 are protected by such laws. Indianapolis is one of the five that are not.
The need for protection from secondhand smoke in all workplaces and public places has never been clearer. Secondhand smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, including at least 69 carcinogens. The U.S. Surgeon General has found that secondhand smoke causes lung cancer, heart disease, serious respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis, low birth weight and sudden infant death syndrome. The Surgeon General has also found that secondhand smoke causes tens of thousands of deaths in the U.S. each year, there is no safe level of exposure, and only smoke-free laws provide effective protection from secondhand smoke.
The evidence is also clear that smoke-free laws protect health without harming business. As the U.S. Surgeon General concluded in a 2006 report, “Evidence from peer-reviewed studies shows that smoke-free policies and regulations do not have an adverse impact on the hospitality industry.”
The survey was conducted by the polling firm Public Opinion Strategies. The poll has a sample of 500 registered likely Indianapolis voters and was conducted July 8 and 11, 2010. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 4.38 percentage points.
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New Smoke Free Indy Yard Signs
Smoke Free Indy is proud to announce the arrival of yard signs that show support for making all Indianapolis workplaces smoke free. The coalition will be distributing yard signs around Indianapolis in the months of July and August. Each yard sign features the message “Want A Smoke Free Indy? Text ‘Smokefree’ to 242242.“ To get a sign for your yard please email info@smokefreeindy.com.
Voice Youth in Downtown Indy
| May 29, 2010 | ||
| 9:00 am | to | 12:00 pm |
Voice youth will be in downtown Indy during the Indy 500 Parade educating local youth and the community about Indianapolis serving as a test market for big tobacco. Currently Camel is test marketing its new dissolvable tobacco products Orbs, Sticks and Strips in Indianapolis. To learn more about these products and there impact on Indy seek out a Voice youth at the parade.
World No Tobacco Day
| May 31, 2010 |
This years World No Tobacco Day is May 31st. Smoke Free Indy will be honoring this day by educating Indianapolis residents about the need to make all Indianapolis businesses smoke free.
Mayor’s Bike Ride
| June 5, 2010 | ||
| 9:00 am | to | 11:00 am |
Smoke Free Indy will be participating in the Mayor’s Bike Ride on June 5th at Allisonville Elementary at 9:00 a.m.. If you are available that morning make sure to come out and participate in this important event. If you need a t-shirt to wear that day please email info@smokefreeindy.com. We hope to see you there!
Press Release: Michigan is now smoke-free: Will Indiana be last?
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 20, 2010
All of
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – With Michigan’s smoke-free air law going into effect May 1, 2010, Indiana is among the last states that does not have a law that protects its workers from exposure to secondhand smoke. All of
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Smoke Free Indy is a coalition of state and local public health organizations, community based organizations, physicians, businesses, schools, the faith community, and Marion County residents dedicated to reducing secondhand smoke, tobacco usage and tobacco initiation through education, prevention and advocacy. For more information visit: www.smokefreeindy.com.
For Immediate Release: Smoke Free Indy to provide list of smoke-free venues to basketball fans
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 11, 2010
The Big Ten Conference is On: Looking for Smoke-Free Bars? Smoke Free Indy to provide list of smoke-free venues to basketball fans
INDIANAPOLIS,
Michigan is going smoke-free May 1 leaving Penn State as the only Big Ten team coming from a city that still allows workplace smoking. Twenty-eight states across the nation have smoke-free air laws covering workplaces, and of the top 15 largest
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Smoke Free Indy is a coalition of state and local public health organizations, community based organizations, physicians, businesses, schools, the faith community, and Marion County residents dedicated to reducing secondhand smoke, tobacco usage and tobacco initiation through education, prevention and advocacy. For more information visit: www.smokefreeindy.com.
IBJ News: Officials: Weak smoking ban hurts Indianapolis’ hospitality efforts
Read the story below or click here for a link to original story.
February 27, 2010
The ongoing smoking-ban debate is getting a new spark from convention leaders trying to light a fire under lawmakers, who have been reluctant to approve the kind of comprehensive smoking ban that health—and now tourism—officials say is needed here.
The smoking-ban debate in this city and state is getting a new spark from a fired-up group of tourism and convention officials.
They’re trying to light a fire under lawmakers, who have been reluctant to approve the kind of comprehensive smoking ban that health—and now tourism—officials say is needed here.
Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association CEO Don Welsh and other area tourism and convention officials say Indianapolis officials’ unwillingness to strengthen anti-smoking legislation is imperiling the city’s growing tourism trade.
“In many cases, the ordinances have been driven politically or solely due to the desires of local citizens,” Welsh said. “While I understand that, the desires of visitors who spend billions of dollars in our community every year have not been considered.”
On the state level, the Indiana House on Feb. 24 passed a measure that would ban smoking in all enclosed public places except casinos and horse tracks. Several local tourism officials said they plan to get in the ear of state politicians as the bill progresses through the General Assembly.
A number of cities in the United States and abroad have passed legislation outlawing smoking in all public places, including hotels, restaurants and bars. Welsh said he recently heard from visitors from New York who were disgusted by Indianapolis’ policy.
“When Paris passed their anti-smoking legislation 18 months ago, that set the tone globally,” Welsh said. “It’s what people come to expect, and Indianapolis is being left behind.”
Welsh is far from alone in his concern.
Jeff Sweet, president of the Greater Indianapolis Hotel and Lodging Association and general manager of Hilton Indianapolis Hotel and Suites, said the complaints he hears from visitors about Indiana’s smoking policies are becoming louder and more frequent.
“Our guests, quite frankly, are taken aback by the smoking in our city,” said Sweet, whose hotel is in the process of going completely smoke-free. “There’s no getting around it. It’s starting to affect the city’s image, and not in a good way.”
Dirk Ebener, CEO of Atlanta-based NuernbergMesse North America, which represents more than 100 trade shows globally, said a city’s smoking policy has a major impact on its image. Ebener, who recently conducted a site inspection in Indianapolis, said the smoking in entertainment hot spots here is a definite drawback.
“There are a growing number of conventions in various sectors that definitely prefer a non-smoking city,” Ebener said. “A city’s smoking policy says a lot about it. It speaks to cleanliness of the city, demonstrates the health awareness of the city, and calls attention to its overall progressiveness.”
In 2006, the City-County Council enacted an anti-smoking law, but there are several exemptions, including bars and other establishments that don’t allow anyone under 18 and businesses that don’t employ anyone under 18.
In October, the City-County Council voted against an ordinance that would have strengthened the existing smoking ban to include bars and the vast majority of workplaces. Council members then decided in a 14-13 vote to table the legislation, which means it can return to the council agenda at a future meeting.
Local patrons like Kenneth Fegett still enjoy a smoke at the Front Page and other area bars. (IBJ Photo/ Perry Reichanadter)
Mayor Greg Ballard has said he would veto such an ordinance if it reaches his desk.
That stand, Welsh said, is endangering a critical sector of convention business the ICVA is trying to develop.
“Many in the life sciences, bio and medical fields are vehemently against smoking in public places,” Welsh said. “I’m not sure it’s always a show stopper, but it’s certainly an unnecessary worry and concern that we shouldn’t have.”
Medical and life sciences conventions and corporate meetings are key to the city’s plan to grow downtown and its convention business, Sweet said.
“Bio and life sciences is a premium-rated business,” he said. “There’s a huge benefit to getting a foot in the door with that industry. Since that sector is growing rapidly, now is a critical time for this city to put its best foot forward with those organizations.”
Sweet said the current policy hurts the city’s otherwise pristine reputation among convention-goers.
“In order to be perceived as being a more progressive city, we have to have a smoking ban,” he said.
The city’s rapidly growing tourism and convention business means there’s plenty at stake.
A 2006 study by Washington, D.C.-based industry analyst D.K. Shifflet and Associates showed the city’s annual visitor spending hitting $3.6 billion.
Life sciences currently generates 4 percent of Indianapolis’ convention and visitor business, but within a few years, Welsh said, it could account for 20 percent. Sports is the city’s largest convention and visitor moneymaker, he said, making up 24 percent of the pie.
While the money spent on life sciences and medical conventions is considerable, it’s just part of the benefit. ICVA and its partners in the endeavor to grow that sector hope exposure from the medical and bio gatherings gives the region further gravitas as a life sciences hub. That, BioCrossroads President David Johnson said, will help build the credibility of companies located here.
“If we could make Indianapolis ground zero for these types of meetings, that would be a tremendous way to show the strengths of this community in a way others in the industry don’t normally think of,” said Johnson, whose organization heads economic development for Indiana’s life sciences initiative.
Not everyone in the local convention and tourism sector favors strengthening the city’s anti-smoking law. John Livengood, president of the Indiana Restaurant & Hospitality Association, said there’s an intense divide among members of his organization.
While some agree with Welsh and Sweet that Indianapolis’ smoking laws are scaring off certain visitors, he said others fear an all-out smoking ban will hurt the city with other patrons.
“There’s only one policy that works for everyone,” Livengood said. “To have no policy and let each company decide for itself. It’s a free enterprise issue.”
Waiting for local businesses to conclude that smoking must be banned, Welsh said, could have detrimental consequences.
“I understand civil liberties, but there’s enough medical documentaion to know smoke—firsthand or secondhand—is bad for you,” Welsh said. “Our current policy makes this city look not very progressive.”•
Position Statement on 371 Going Back to Committee
# # # Smoke Free Indy is a coalition of state and local public health organizations, including the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association of Indiana as well as other groups, businesses, and Marion County residents, that support making all workplaces smoke free. We are dedicated to reducing secondhand smoke, tobacco usage and tobacco initiation through education, prevention and advocacy.
Indy Star: Stronger smoking ban gets new life
Stronger smoking ban
gets new life
City-County Council votes to revisit proposal that had been in limbo
Posted: November 10, 2009
After a setback last month that put its future in question, a proposal to ban smoking in most Indianapolis workplaces will return to the City-County Council in a few weeks.
A 16-12 council vote Monday brought the measure out of limbo, reinvigorating a heated, months-long battle pitting public 
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