Tyler

Those in favor of a total smoking ban outnumbered those against it at a meeting held to gather public comments Tuesday night.

More than 100 Tyler citizens gathered at the city of Tyler Smoking Ordinance Task Force Public Meeting to listen and share their opinions about a possible public smoking ban in Tyler, but out of 36 speakers, 24 supported the ban and 12 spoke against it.

Opinions differed as to whether or not a total smoking ban represents an infringement of rights for smokers and business owners or a nonsmoker’s right to breathe clean air.

“What you do in your home and your car is your business, but I don’t want it to become mine,” he said.

Local Dentist Rick Coker said he would like the ability to take his family to a restaurant without the smell of smoke.

“If all the bars in Ireland and the state of Louisiana can ban smoke — I think Tyler should be able to do it,” he said.

“As a teen, I feel for people who say smoking is a personal choice — but I would like to have the choice to avoid a smoky environment when I go out,” she said.

Carol Oxly, owner of D’s Coffee Shop said she did not want to tell customers who had smoked in her establishment for years that they would have to go outside.

Colten Parsell, manager of the Down Under Pub said the ban would adversely affect his business.

“When 650 of 800 people in my club smoke, you can’t ask them to all step outside. It just will not work,” he said.

Many also spoke about the health risks associated with second-hand smoke.

Gilbert Rowe, an ex-smoker and cancer, heart attack and stroke survivor now participates in a program to educate junior high school children on the affects of smoking.

“One of the questions I get asked the most is — ‘If cigarettes are so dangerous, why is there not a law against them?’ The ball is in our court now to do something about that,” he said.

Rowe was followed by several local doctors and members of the American Cancer Society who read health statistics pertaining to the affects of smoking and recounted their experiences in treating cancer and heart disease patients.

Those who did not attend the public forum and would like to express their opinion on the proposed smoking ban can e-mail comments to the Tyler City Council through the city Web site at www.cityoftyler.org. or by going to: http://www.cityoftyler.org/Default.aspx?tabid=640 .E-mail addresses for all City Council members are listed under “Council Connection” on the Web site.

Tyler Mayor Joey Seeber asked the task force to review the current code and make a new recommendation in December, citing the release of the 2006 Surgeon General’s warning concerning the affects of second hand smoke.

Seventeen cities in the state of Texas are 100 percent smoke-free.