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San Antonio’s new smoking ordinance is an expansion of the old law, adding indoor public places like restaurants, bars, and billiard halls. Texas Public Radio’s Eileen Pace reports.
August 23, 2010 · The proposed ordinance called for banning smoking in all public places, but the final ordinance that passed was a compromise, providing an exemption for outdoor patios so that bars and restaurants can still offer smoking areas.
Opponents of the ordinance said the ordinance is unfair –- that many can’t build patios and would go out of business. Others worry that the ordinance will only push the smoking business to other communities like Leon Valley and Balcones Heights.
Councilman John Clamp said the final version of the ordinance does not give San Antonio bragging rights as a smoke-free city.
“When you come to San Antonio and you go to the Alamo and to the Riverwalk, and outside –- even the council chambers –- you can smoke. To me, this ordinance was watered down too much, and I just think it’s unfortunate,” Clamp said. “I didn’t support it because of the small business, but if you’re going to do something, you need to do it right.”
Also opposing the ordinance were council members Elisa Chen, Ray Lopez, and Jennifer Ramos.
But Mayor Julián Castro said the ordinance was a compromise, and the final version does the job the law is intended to do.
“It protects the public health in a strong way but it also allows a reasonable transition time for our small businesses to get ready for it,” Castro said.
Businesses have a year to build their patios where patrons can smoke. The council also approved a speedy permit process to allow inspections and constructions to go faster.
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