05-12-14 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING MAY 12, 2014 Brawler O'Dell — 803 Cottage Grove Ave- I'm new to the healthcare field, but it is very clear that the health in this community is not the greatest. It is disheartening that I have to tell my friends in New York, that we have to deal with smoke in business establishments. Corey Clark- 3267 Chalk Maple Ct- I represent the Indiana Black Expo and tobacco succession plan, we need to educate our community of the dangers of smokers and second -hand smoke. We work to prevent it from future generations. 18% of workers continue to be exposed to smoke at their jobs. William Jones- 4343 Wilmington Ct.- I represent the Pastor alliance, my mother was a smoker and my Auntie who was not a smoker, and her lungs looked as bad as my mother's from second- hand smoke. I was forced to grow up without parents. I just ask that everyone is considerate of everybody else. Kente Lark- 702 LaSalle St- I own a barber shop and salon, we try to keep our business family friendly. Second -hand smoke is real, I can't be around it as I have asthma. Our environment does have an impact on our youth by providing them a good model of not smoking will help lead the way. Deputy Mayor Mark Neal- We are supportive of this ordinance. We promote a healthy work environment. We believe having a safe smoke free environment is the right this to do. Lanier Vonne- 914 N LaSalle- Either we are for South Bend or we're not. At the end of the day are you concerned about the citizens as a whole? Yes, children go to bars but their parents do, this isn't a money issue it is a health issue. Santiago Garcez- 101 N Michigan- I want to speak on behalf of a friend who use to work in the bars, he died because of lung cancer. I know that he would ban smoking if he could as he was not able to see his kids grow up. Erin Kelly- 217 S Michigan- We are supportive of this ordinance, I spoke to many business owners, two have banned smoking and very successful. I know there are others that don't agree. But I look to expand this district wide and create a progressive community. Those who are wishing to speak in opposition: Joseph Shabazz- 12725 Marian St- We have a free enterprise system, and now we have a smoking ordinance that is tearing the city a part. We don't have to worry about smoking in my neighborhood as most are unemployed, we never hear about how to get rid of poverty. Jesse Davis- P.O. Box 10205- I had a mother who died from lung cancer who never smoked a day of her life, your statistics mean nothing. If doctor's want to make a point they can misconstrue the data. Mitch Kalstanksy- 1516 N Ironwood Rd- Not one person against it, had a person in the bar industry, we know smoking is bad for you. No one forces you to smoke. I want to bring income to South Bend. But if you pass this I will have to build out down the road. Mothers and Fathers can smoke in the cars but we're not talking about banning those. When do we draw the line? Gary Libers- 19655 Jackson Rd. - Our members are elderly people, they made sacrifices as veteran and they have the right to smoke. I hope we can defend their right that they worked hard for. Melvin Reed- 3310 South Bend- I want you to watch unintended consequences and the people you directly affect with this ordinance which is the small bars in South Bend. Gary Weiss — 621 S Bendix Dr.- Tavern Owner, we are concerned about our businesses this ordinance only applies to our business in South Bend, We talk about we don't want to hurt South Bend but this ordinance effects has directly, it would be different if it were unilateral.