Jan. 4, 2006
Contact: Angela Bradbery (202) 669-6517
A Great Day for Everyone Who Breathes; Council Passes Comprehensive Smokefree Workplace Legislation
Statement from Smokefree DC
Today is a great day not only for everyone who works in a D.C. bar or restaurant but for everyone who wants to breathe clean air when they frequent public indoor places in the District. At long last, the D.C. Council has approved a comprehensive smokefree workplaces bill. Smokefree DC applauds those Councilmembers who voted for the measure, because they have rightly ignored “the sky is falling” rhetoric and have stood up for the right of all workers to breathe clean air on the job.
There is still work to be done – we must ensure that the hardship waivers are not abused – but we have made huge strides today in improving the health of everyone who works in D.C. bars and restaurants, as well as everyone who frequents them.
Three years ago, the co-founders of Smokefree DC launched this effort by assembling a Web site, circulating an online petition among friends and neighbors, and developing a window sticker for smokefree restaurants to display. At the time, few people were aware that New York City and California were smokefree. The concept of smokefree was new.
Since then, the landscape has changed, not only in the District but throughout the country and the world. Ten states (California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington) have enacted legislation making all indoor workplaces – including bars and restaurants – smokefree. Several countries (Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Scotland, Bermuda) have done the same, as have Prince George’s County, Montgomery County, Lexington (Ky.), Austin, El Paso and Tempe, to name a few – the list goes on.
In the District, the climate also changed, due in large part to lots of hard work by the many supporters of Smokefree DC. We thank all those who staffed booths at fairs and festivals, distributed Smokefree DC stickers at events, called or wrote Councilmembers, attended Council meetings and spread the word to friends, neighbors, family members and co-workers. Smokefree DC didn’t accomplish this by itself; we accomplished this because we tapped a nerve and managed to find the many, many people who believe in everyone’s right to breathe clean air as much as we do.
Smokefree DC extends its gratitude in particular to Councilmember Adrian Fenty – who has been outspoken on this issue from the start and was one of three original co-sponsors of a smokefree workplaces bill; Councilmember Phil Mendelson, also an original supporter; Councilmember Kathy Patterson, the third original supporter; and Councilmember David Catania, who propelled this bill through his committee, thereby ensuring it would come to a full Council vote.
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Smokefree DC (www.smokefreedc.org) is a nonprofit membership organization that supports 100% smokefree environments for all workplaces, including restaurants and bars.