Indy Airport To Ban Smoking on All Property - Including Parking Lots

[IndyTom 0]

Only one person showed up to voice opposition:

 

 

 

 

1 person speaks up against smoking ban

 

Public hearing on proposal for airport draws real estate agent, who asks for compromise

By Zach Dunkin

zach.dunkin@indystar.com

June 2, 2007

 

 

All Brett Safewright wants is a compromise.

 

The 50-year-old real estate salesman from Indianapolis was the lone citizen to address the Indianapolis Airport Authority board on its proposed smoking ban, which would prohibit smoking on all airport property. A final hearing is set for June 15. If passed, the all-campus ban would be the first for a U.S. airport.

 

"There's only one group here that could possibly be inconvenienced by this order, and that is the smokers," said Safewright.

 

"I would ask the people here to reconsider banning smoking altogether. I would ask you to go along with a spirit of compromise. I'm sure you're all aware that we smokers have been asked to participate in a spirit of compromise. A forced compromise."

 

Following Safewright's statement, board President Lacy Johnson said the board would welcome any other comments up to and on June 15 before the voting. The ordinance would close the airport's smoking room July 31; all other areas, including sidewalks, garage and parking lots, would be smoke-free by Jan. 1.

Johnson said he has received several letters from citizens in support of the ban.

 

So far, only one board member has spoken out against it. Robert Voorhies, retired president of the Central Indiana Central Labor Council, said he is more concerned about government intrusion than the smoking.

"I expect there'll be some more conversation in two weeks than there was today," he said.

[Toro 3]

It's going too far. I understand in the building. I understand within 200 yards of the building. I would even say you can only smoke in designated outside "smoking areas". But to ban it is absolutely ludicrous.

[KSB2424 3,180]

Yeah this is a little much. I totally understand in the building, or by the entrance ways outside. But in the freakin' parking lot? That is not bothering anyone and is outside. Yet they serve liquor on the plane itself.

[IndyTom 0]

I agree. I think this is a little extreme.

 

I don't smoke, but I don't have a problem with at least a baby step approach of setting up an area away from the curbs.

 

If memory serves, their rationale was not wanting to spend the money on new facilities for smokers when they anticipate all airports will eventually have these "property-wide" bans in place 5-10 years from now anyway.

[phillybear 366]

Airports are weird places. They ban Christmas decorations, but install special equipment for Muslims to use. They want to ban smoking outside in the parking lot, yet how much exhaust do planes spit out. Not to mention noise pollution. Airports are weird places.

 

At least our rights continue to slip slide away. Next, no fat people allowed to fly.

[zmanzzzz 1]

smokers are oblivious to their collateral damage and will abuse any inch given them, therefore they must be driven from society entirely.

[gocolts 300]

The thing is, the guvment still want people to smoke.

 

I think it would be funny as he!! if the cig companies would say something like this.

 

"You want to ban smoking every where, fine. We will just stop selling cigs in your state. Problem solved."

 

It wouldn't be long before those state guvments would be begging the cig companies to come back. States cannot survive without cig tax income. It is the cash cow of nearly every state in the union.

 

smokers are oblivious to their collateral damage and will abuse any inch given them, therefore they must be driven from society entirely.

Hug a tree today yet.

[shovelheadt 72]

smokers are oblivious to their collateral damage and will abuse any inch given them, therefore they must be driven from society entirely.

 

And once again, you add nothing of quality to the conversation at hand. Congrats.

[kpbuckeye 3]

the only thing they are going to do is create a mess for themselves. people will find a place to smoke and the airport will have to clean it up themselves. big brother gone wild

[KSB2424 3,180]

Do you really want a bunch of nicotine crazed, ill ass motherfockers getting on a 5 hour flight with you?

[zmanzzzz 1]

And once again, you add nothing of quality to the conversation at hand. Congrats.

 

i hate f0cking smokers and im fed the f0ck up. smoking in someone elses presence is perhaps the rudest social blunder ever.

[phillybear 366]

i hate f0cking smokers and im fed the f0ck up. smoking in someone elses presence is perhaps the rudest social blunder ever.

 

I always received adverse reactions when I pulled out my penus and stuck my junk into the gravy boat during a dinner party. But that's just me.

[hoytdwow 202]

I smoked for 17 years and quit about 18 months ago, now I don't have to worry about all this bullshit.

 

[zmanzzzz 1]

I smoked for 17 years and quit about 18 months ago, now I don't have to worry about all this bullshit.

 

 

i wonder how many people you offended?

[hoytdwow 202]

i wonder how many people you offended?

 

not enough

 

[kpbuckeye 3]

i hate f0cking smokers and im fed the f0ck up. smoking in someone elses presence is perhaps the rudest social blunder ever.

 

its a good thing nobodys gives a fock what you think

[redtodd 7]

If the smokers were considerate enough to dispose of their butts after they smoke, I bet this wouldn't happen.

[IndyTom 0]

While we are on the subject - it passed.

 

Airport is 1st to go smoke-free outside

Indoor lounge and OK to puff outdoors will be gone in 2008

By Karen Eschbacher

karen.eschbacher@indystar.com

June 16, 2007

 

 

Indianapolis International Airport is going smoke-free, although a public smoking lounge will remain open through the end of the year to give airport employees more time to kick the habit.

 

The Indianapolis Airport Authority had considered closing the lounge at the end of July and banning smoking on all other airport property -- including outdoor areas -- in January. Instead, the board voted Friday to implement the entire policy all at once, on Jan. 1.

 

Board member Michael Wells said delaying the closing of the smoking lounge will enable the 24 percent of airport employees who smoke to prepare for the change. The lounge, on the main ticketing level near the administration offices, is open to the public but appears to be used primarily by employees.

"It takes time for people to adjust," Wells said. "We want to give the employees the opportunity to get into a cessation program."

 

Under the plan approved Friday, construction workers building the $1.07 billion midfield terminal also will be allowed to continue lighting up after smoking is snuffed elsewhere. The ban will not extend to the construction site until the building is mostly complete, but no later than Sept. 30, 2008.

After that, all airport property will be smoke-free. The all-campus ban would be the first for a U.S. airport.

Ed Hole, a resident construction manager for Hunt/Smoot Midfield Builders, told the board that some contracts allow smoking in designated areas of the job site.

 

Hole, who does not smoke, said trying to change the rules will make it difficult to find workers in an already competitive labor market that includes several other large projects, including Lucas Oil Stadium.

The decision to prohibit smoking already has some smokers miffed.

 

Gordon Hayward, 67, Speedway, said he knows he probably shouldn't smoke.

"But that's my decision," he said. "It's about freedom and rights. I don't know what these people are trying to do."

 

Health professionals who spoke at a public hearing before the vote agreed the issue is one of rights -- nonsmokers' rights to avoid secondhand smoke.

 

"By implementing this ordinance, you will be making a commitment to the health of your employees and this community," said Dr. Virginia Caine, director of the Marion County Health Department.

 

In addition to Indianapolis International, the ban applies to Hendricks County Airport -- Gordon Graham Field, Eagle Creek Airpark, Metropolitan Airport, Mount Comfort Airport and the Downtown Heliport.

[edjr 7,165]

The Miami Airport has a big green house type room in the middle of it and smokers can go in and light up and help speed up their rate of getting cancer.