March 10, 2004
Wednesday

Some of you may recall a while back an effort from me at the Borough Assembly to eliminate smoking in public places. I discovered after I began my initiative that the Borough doesn't have Health and Welfare powers. We are a second-class borough, we would need an enabling ordinance followed by ratification from the voters at the next regular election to eliminate smoking in public places. The City, on the other hand, is a first class City and does have the authority, inside the City limits, to eliminate smoking. If smoking where anything else, such as radio active waste or asbestos or any other hazardous substance, we would have no quarrel getting rid of it regardless of supposed economic impacts. We would probably hold community meetings and fret about what we could and should do. I want you all to know and understand this very simple and indisputable point: Smoking kills and so does second hand smoke. Join others and me Thursday, May 18th, 7:00 p.m. at the City council meeting in supporting this wise and considered policy of ridding our public places of this scourge.

Regards,

Samuel Bergeron
Ketchikan, AK - USA

 

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