Council Snuffs Out Public Hearing On Smoking Ban
Tentative Approval Given To No-Bid Extensions For DIA Concessionaires
POSTED: 7:03 a.m. MDT June 24, 2003
UPDATED: 7:47 a.m. MDT June 24, 2003
DENVER -- Denver's city council has decided to vote next Monday on the proposed smoking ban but without holding a public forum on the controversial issue.
On Monday night, council president Cathy Reynolds decided a public hearing would be unnecessary because most of those on the council have already made up their minds about the ordinance.
A majority of council members appear to be against the measure, which would ban smoking in restaurants within the city limits. They say passing such a measure would hurt businesses because customers would just go to a bordering suburb where there is no smoking ban.
Reynold's legal but rare move, which has not been seen in 28 years, angered those who supported the ban. They say the public needs to be heard further on the issue.
"It's a gag order," said councilwoman Susan Barnes Gelt. "It blows smoke in the faces of the hundreds of citizens that have worked on behalf of this ordinance."
People on both sides of the issue packed the meeting room.
"I feel blindsided," said Patrick Nash, a cancer survivor who smoked for 40 years and is president of Smoke Free Denver, which
pushed for the ban. "But we're not going to give up."
Councilwoman Debbie Ortega said she wanted to hear from both
sides before making up her mind. Councilwoman Kathleen MacKenzie said the Council had been
supplied with so much information over the past few months that she couldn't imagine what additional information would sway votes.
With only weeks left in their term, the Council also gave
tentative approval to no-bid contract extensions for more than 100
concessionaires at Denver International Airport. Some Council
members said not requiring bids could cost the city millions at a
time when city sales tax revenues are lagging, but Mayor Wellington Webb said that it's important the city sticks with the businesses that stuck through post-Sept. 11.
Also at the meeting, Webb said proposed layoffs have increased from 40 to 50 employees as the city copes with a
projected shortfall this year of $33 million. Another $50 million must be cut in spending next year.
Terms for some Council members and Webb end July 21.
On Monday night, council president Cathy Reynolds decided a public hearing would be unnecessary because most of those on the council have already made up their minds about the ordinance.
A majority of council members appear to be against the measure, which would ban smoking in restaurants within the city limits. They say passing such a measure would hurt businesses because customers would just go to a bordering suburb where there is no smoking ban.
Reynold's legal but rare move, which has not been seen in 28 years, angered those who supported the ban. They say the public needs to be heard further on the issue.
"It's a gag order," said councilwoman Susan Barnes Gelt. "It blows smoke in the faces of the hundreds of citizens that have worked on behalf of this ordinance."
People on both sides of the issue packed the meeting room.
"I feel blindsided," said Patrick Nash, a cancer survivor who smoked for 40 years and is president of Smoke Free Denver, which
pushed for the ban. "But we're not going to give up."
Councilwoman Debbie Ortega said she wanted to hear from both
sides before making up her mind. Councilwoman Kathleen MacKenzie said the Council had been
supplied with so much information over the past few months that she couldn't imagine what additional information would sway votes.
With only weeks left in their term, the Council also gave
tentative approval to no-bid contract extensions for more than 100
concessionaires at Denver International Airport. Some Council
members said not requiring bids could cost the city millions at a
time when city sales tax revenues are lagging, but Mayor Wellington Webb said that it's important the city sticks with the businesses that stuck through post-Sept. 11.
Also at the meeting, Webb said proposed layoffs have increased from 40 to 50 employees as the city copes with a
projected shortfall this year of $33 million. Another $50 million must be cut in spending next year.
Terms for some Council members and Webb end July 21.
Previous Stories:
- June 23, 2003: City Council To Take Up Smoking Ban Issue
- May 21, 2003: Smoking Ban Upheld In Pueblo
- May 20, 2003: Pueblo Voters Hoping To Clear Smoking Ban Issue
- April 28, 2003: Denver To Announce Support Of Smoking Ban
- December 18, 2002: Fort Collins Snuffs Out Smoking
- November 20, 2002: Fort Collins Approves Anti-Smoking Ordinance
- November 19, 2002: Fort Collins May Go Smoke-Free
- October 24, 2002: Smoke-Free Denver Possible?
- October 8, 2002: No Lighting Up In Louisville
- August 26, 2002: Anti-Smoking Campaign Targets Colorado Smokers
- April 2, 2001: Students Trying Smoking In Record Numbers
- March 27, 2001: Women's Smoking Deaths Double Since 1965
Copyright 2003 by TheDenverChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
