While some workers in Evanston hope to breathe easier soon, theproposed smoking ordinance from the city’s Health and HumanServices Committee is making area smokers anxious.
Evanston City Council voted this week to endorse a statewidesmoking ban that would prohibit smoking in all enclosed publicareas, including bars and restaurants.
The committee wants to ban smoking in all indoor public areas inEvanston, excluding tobacco shops and nursing homes.
If the proposed ban is passed, businesses would be required toprohibit smoking indoors — including in areas previouslydesignated for smoking.
This ban is threatening to some smokers at the RotaryInternational Building, 1560 Sherman Ave., who would have to movetheir indoor smoking lounge outside.
A lot of smokers in the building use the lounge during coldwinter months, said employee Chris Boon.
“I smoke occasionally, so I’m not a ‘smoker’ smoker,” he said.”But the big smokers, they use it a lot. If it’s nice out, you’llsee a lot of people outside, but in the winter, it gets full.”
Maintaining a separate room to accommodate smokers improvesworkplace dynamics by reducing smokers’ stress, Boon said.
But Ald. Gene Feldman (9th) said the committee wants toestablish a consistent policy concerning smoking in publicspaces.
“The general sentiment was that clearly, smoking is terrible,”Feldman said. “It’s not good for anybody to be in a room with asmoker.”
Some businesses, like The Walking Spirit, 710 Church St.,already prohibit smoking in the workplace. Manager Rich Iversonsaid he does not want smokers anywhere near the store.
“It sends an unhealthy message to people in an area that sellshealthy, comfortable shoes,” he said. “If you do (smoke), you needto go like a block away.”
The Bank One Plaza, 1603 Orrington Ave., does not accommodatesmokers either. Vlado Cvijanovic, who works in the building, saidsmoking indoors causes distress for others.
Cvijanovic, Weinberg ’03, said he is one of two smokers out ofthe 25 employees of Go2Call, an Internet telephone company on the11th floor of the building.
“For the hallway to be smokey because of us two smokers, Iwouldn’t find that appropriate,” he said. “As a non-smoker, I’dfind it very distracting.
“I’ve grown accustomed to walking downstairs. It’s part ofcorporate America, unless you work for Phillip Morris,” hesaid.
However, employees at Rotary International said they believetheir situation is different because their lounge is completelysecluded from other parts of the building. Some question thenecessity and effectiveness of the proposed ban.
“If a building makes a room so that the smoking does not affectother people, it should be allowed unless the room is abused,” saidRotary employee Verna Jaggers. “People would come outside more (ifthe room was closed), but I don’t think they would be happy.”
She also said outdoor smoking is not victim-free — a feelingIverson shares as well.
“Sometimes, on a really nice day, when the doors are open, asmoker walks by and we have to close the door,” Iverson said. “Ican smell smoke from a mile away.”