City officials consider passing ban

McKinney Mayor Bill Whitfield and McKinney City Councilwoman Gilda Garza have both recently publicly proposed creating an ordinance to ban smoking in restaurants and bars.

Whitfield recently mentioned the idea in a column and Garza said she'd like city staff to look at creating an ordinance to prohibit smoking in restaurants and bars throughout McKinney.

The council has not seen the issue on any recent council agenda. The proposed ban would be similar to the one that the Arlington City Council recently approved.

Garza said she wants to ban smoking in restaurants and bars because, “smoke is a nuisance.”

“I think that the majority of people are living health consciously and that we're in a world that is being careful about health. Why not try to eat in a healthy environment that doesn't have smoke?” Garza said.

The city does not have a smoking ban ordinance and business owners can currently choose to prohibit smoking or designate a non-smoking area at their establishments.

Garza said she would like to discuss the issue in a workshop council meeting to see if it will move forward. As of Wednesday afternoon, a workshop meeting to discuss the issue had not been scheduled as she and Whitfield have only talked about the issue on separate occasions.

“Hopefully, a workshop meeting would encourage the public to submit their input and we can get the pros and cons on considering a smoke ban. I think we could be successful in it if we do it the proper way, and the proper way is to get feedback,” Garza said.

She realizes restaurant and bar owners may not support the idea of a possible smoke ban as it might drive some customers away.

“We may not get the support from the restaurant and bars. I know that some restaurants that aren't family restaurants won't support it,” Garza said. “We're only talking about an hour here. That's how long it usually takes to eat lunch and dinner.”

If proposed to the council, Lelda Megert, of McKinney, said she would wholeheartedly support a smoking ban.

“I don't know why they have non-smoking and smoking sections when we're all in the same room. My husband, Karl, died from emphysema and his cause of death was listed as cigarette smoking. He begged our son to stop smoking before he died,” Megert said Wednesday at the McKinney Senior Center.

Patrons of the Londoner, which has a non-smoking restaurant downstairs and a bar upstairs, were mostly against the idea of possibly not being allowed to smoke at the Londoner or at other restaurants in town.

“I think people should have the right to choose if they can smoke or not, especially if you have a non-smoking section at a restaurant,” said Marie Briton, manager of the Londoner.

Adam Marshall, of McKinney, smokes and was also against the idea of possibly banning smoking.

“Do they want us to flick our cigarettes into the street and smoke outside or put them in an ashtray where they'll go into the trash?” Marshall asked.

McKinney Chamber of Commerce President Terri Ricketts said the Chamber has not yet surveyed its members to see where they stand on the issue.

“That's a business decision that a business owner makes having good knowledge of his customers. I believe in free enterprise and market-driven decision making. Those who feel they are losing business due to smoking in their businesses can initiate policy that supports their customers' preference,” Ricketts said. “I think back on Prohibition and how ineffective that was and how ineffective the war on drugs has been.”

Lifelong McKinney resident Rene Bates said the council, “better leave well enough alone,” while shopping along the square Wednesday afternoon as he lit up a Marlboro cigarette outside of Smith Drug.

“Why are we trying to follow and be like Dallas and Fort Worth? Be your own city. It wasn't even brought up until they did it. I still think it's a free country. Who am I killing standing here smoking when people are drinking and driving, and a lot more people are dying from liquor than smoking,” Bates said.

Blaine Hall, 85, who was also shopping on the McKinney square, had mixed feelings Wednesday about the idea of a possible smoking ban.

“I was a smoker for years, but I quit. I think they should have a right to smoke some place,” Hall said.

Councilman Thad Helsley said he wanted to see some information first and feedback from people who are for it and against it before forming an opinion.

“I think there should be some discussion because it could affect people in different ways. I want to understand what we're talking about and hear both sides. I need to listen to all sides before I form an opinion,” Helsley said.

Contact staff writer Brandi Hart at hartb@acnpapers.com.

Current Rating: 0 of 0 votes!

Rate File: Select Rating: * ** *** ****

 Plano Apartments
 Plano Attorneys
 Plano Auto Dealers
 Plano Auto Parts
 Plano Auto Repair
 Plano Beauty Salons
 Plano Car Rental
 Plano Dentists
 Plano Doctors
 Plano Flowers
 Plano Hotels
 Plano Insurance
 Plano Loans
 Plano Mortgages
 Plano Movers
 Plano Pizza
 Plano Realtors
 Plano Restaurants
 Plano Storage
 Plano Tax Preparation
 Plano Travel
 Featured
 More...