The study, by Indiana University’s School of Medicine, comes as the state considers enacting a smokefree workplace law.

Clearly, it should. The numbers alone are staggering – the cost of secondhand smoke amounts to $201 [...]]]> Secondhand smoke costs the state of Indiana $1.3 billion – yes, billion with a “b” — per year, a new study shows.

The study, by Indiana University’s School of Medicine, comes as the state considers enacting a smokefree workplace law.

Clearly, it should. The numbers alone are staggering – the cost of secondhand smoke amounts to $201 per Hoosier per year. And 1,400 of the 50,000 deaths that are attributable each year in the U.S. to secondhand smoke occur in Indiana.

What are Indiana lawmakers waiting for?

In 2005, 32 housing authorities had smokefree policies in effect. By the end of 2011, 285 will.

Cities that have or plan to make public housing smokefree: Boston (in September), Detroit, San Antonio and Portland, Ore.

The reason?

The bans are largely [...]]]>
The New York Times had an excellent story today about how housing authorities are increasingly going smokefree.

In 2005, 32 housing authorities had smokefree policies in effect. By the end of 2011, 285 will.

Cities that have or plan to make public housing smokefree: Boston (in September), Detroit, San Antonio and Portland, Ore.

The reason?

The bans are largely a response to the risks posed to nonsmokers by secondhand smoke. In addition, property managers say smokeless apartments are cheaper to clean, especially if there is carpeting, and reduce the risk of fire.

The story notes the increasing awareness of the health harms of secondhand smoke migrating from one apartment to another. Although the story has a quote from a smoker concerned about her supposed rights (there is no right to smoke, btw), it recognizes that there are other people in the picture (tenants) who have rights too (the right to breathe clean air, for instance).

New York City has not yet enacted a smokefree policy in its public housing.

Washington, D.C.? Of course not. This is the city that just permanently weakened its smokefree law via a budget amendment.

In addition, the number of people who died suddenly of heart disease was cut in half. These were the effects of a smokefree workplace law enacted in [...]]]> Here’s more reason to support smokefree laws: A new Mayo Clinic study shows that in one Minnesota county that instituted a smokefree workplace law, heart attacks dropped by half.

In addition, the number of people who died suddenly of heart disease was cut in half. These were the effects of a smokefree workplace law enacted in Olmsted County, Minnesota. Researchers looked at medical data covering both the 18 months before and after the law took effect.

The study’s abstract was presented recently at a meeting of the American Heart Association, The Augusta Chronicle reports. The Journal of the American Medical Association is considering publishing it.

Dr. Richard Hurt, the director of the Nicotine Dependence Center at Mayo Clinic and lead author of the study, told the paper:

For everyone, we should minimize the exposure to secondhand smoke. But for people with known heart disease, they should have no – literally no – exposure to second-hand smoke because the risk is too high.

Cain was a lobbyist for the National Restaurant Association, and in that capacity met frequently with tobacco industry lobbyists. He even signed up for a [...]]]> Herman Cain, the former pizza CEO now running for president in the Republican primary, worked closely with the tobacco industry and supported efforts to defeat smokefree workplace policies, Think Progress reports.

Cain was a lobbyist for the National Restaurant Association, and in that capacity met frequently with tobacco industry lobbyists. He even signed up for a pro-tobacco publicity tour.

In addition:

Blurring the lines between restaurant industry caretaker and tobacco company representative, Cain accepted hefty donations from tobacco corporations. Cain worked to snuff out a Senate bill that would have reigned in smoking at restaurants and other facilities around the country.

‘Nuff said.

Last night, several Smokefree DC representatives met with Fiona Greig, who is planning to challenge Jack Evans in Ward 2 next year.

Greig is everything Evans is not. She is progressive. She’s into improving our mass transit system and creating more green spaces. She’s an avid cyclist.

Most important, she isn’t co-opted [...]]]>

flickr photo courtesy of picturesinmylife_yls

Last night, several Smokefree DC representatives met with Fiona Greig, who is planning to challenge Jack Evans in Ward 2 next year.

Greig is everything Evans is not. She is progressive. She’s into improving our mass transit system and creating more green spaces. She’s an avid cyclist.

Most important, she isn’t co-opted by developers and corporate interests.

Greig is also on board with the concept of smokefree workplaces. She understood all that was wrong with Evans’ budget amendment that weakened the law and bypassed the public.

Greig likely will formally announce her candidacy soon, and we’ll learn more about her stances on issues in the coming weeks. Some of her ideas are already posted on her exploratory website. Although she doesn’t yet have much name recognition, that hopefully will change quickly. She is someone new who could bring a lot of good ideas to a Council that seems in desperate need of them.

The D.C. Council today approved a measure that would limit it to two events per year: Fight Night (a charity fundraiser) and the annual event held by the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, to which Councilmember Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) [...]]]> On the bright side, the huge exemption to the smokefree workplaces law just got just smaller.

The D.C. Council today approved a measure that would limit it to two events per year: Fight Night (a charity fundraiser) and the annual event held by the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, to which Councilmember Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) has ties.

That’s about the only good thing that we can say. The fact that the Council cavalierly and permanently weakened the popular health law is hugely problematic. The fact that it did so by bypassing the committee process – therefore ensuring no public input or debate – is even worse.

The Council was so caught up in a heated debate over taxes and bonds that they didn’t even debate the exemption, which is for two cigar-smoking events a year.

It was amusing, though, to witness Evans’ hypocrisy. He had the gall to complain that his colleagues had bypassed the committee process on the tax issue … which of course is exactly what he and Councilmember Michael Brown (D-At Large) did when pushing the smokefree exemption. In fact, he even told us when we ran into him recently at the Wilson Building that he bypassed the committee process because otherwise, he would lose.

So there you have it. Not a proud moment for the D.C. Council.

The D.C. Council is poised to yet again attempt to narrow the exemption it has been trying all summer to carve out of the smokefree workplaces law.

You may recall that language passed in June permitted 79 hotels to hold cigar-smoking events once a year. In July, the Council narrowed that [...]]]>

flickr photo courtesy of HitTrophy

The D.C. Council is poised to yet again attempt to narrow the exemption it has been trying all summer to carve out of the smokefree workplaces law.

You may recall that language passed in June permitted 79 hotels to hold cigar-smoking events once a year. In July, the Council narrowed that to 25 hotels. This, despite the fact that Councilmembers who were pushing for it kept claiming — erroneously — that it would apply to just two events. Then Mayor Vincent Gray vetoed the July bill, which put us right back to the broader June exemption.

It appears as though the Council has finally figured out language that really really will make the exemption apply to just two events: Fight Night (a charity fundraiser that is held in the fall) and the St. Patrick’s Day bash held by the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick (which Jack Evans has ties to).

The language that is to be voted on tomorrow says:

Sec. 3 Section 4917(b) of the Department of Health Functions Clarification Act of 2001, effective April 4, 2006 (D.C. Law 16-90; D.C. Official Code § 7-743(b)), is amended to read as follows:

A(b) A hotel licensed under D.C. Official Code ‘ 25-113 shall be exempt from the provisions of this part once a year for one day for the purposes of hosting a special event that permits cigar smoking; provided, that the hotel shall:

“(1) Notify the Department of Health in writing in advance of the event;

“(2) Have a ballroom or special-event-catering space with an occupancy of 500 or more persons;

“(3) Pay a fee of $250 to be remitted to the Regulatory Enforcement Fund as established under section 4903;

“(4) Permit employees to opt out of working the special event with no penalty; and

“(5) Have been the recipient of a similar exemption between January 1, 2008, and October 1, 2011.”.

The only two events that have got this exemption previously are Fight Night and the St. Patrick’s Day events.

Smokefree DC appreciates the fact that the Council responded to the many emails we have sent pointing out that what the Council said it was doing (creating an exemption for two events) was not in fact what it did.

However, we still have an enormous problem with this, for two reasons:

1) The Council is bypassing the public. Here we have an enormously popular law, and the Council is weakening it without a single public hearing. This should go through the Health Committee. Why isn’t Councilmember David Catania insisting on that?

2) This law shouldn’t be weakened, especially not permanently. What the Council is doing is creating an exemption for these two events that will last in perpetuity. That’s insane. Really, the Friendly Sons can still have their event without smoking cigars, and Fight Night can still raise money without cigar-smoking. Note to the Council: Fight Night won’t move to Maryland; it can’t, because that state has a strong smokefree law too.

We’ll see what happens tomorrow. Too often, the language that is circulated before the Council meets is not what the Council ends up voting on.

It isn’t often that a politician admits that his strategy is to bypass the public so he can win.

But that’s what D.C. Councilmember Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) told us yesterday when we ran into him outside the Wilson Building.

We were talking to Councilmembers about the large exemption the Council put [...]]]>

Flickr photo courtesy of fashionfightspovertydc

It isn’t often that a politician admits that his strategy is to bypass the public so he can win.

But that’s what D.C. Councilmember Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) told us yesterday when we ran into him outside the Wilson Building.

We were talking to Councilmembers about the large exemption the Council put in the smokefree workplaces law over the summer and urging them to repeal it. The exemption allows for annual cigar-smoking events in a large number of hotels throughout the city.

Evans saw us and greeted us as we were chatting with Councilmember Yvette Alexander (D-Ward 7), who still thought the exemption applied to just one event, a charity fundraiser.

Evans said he was willing to compromise by narrowing the exemption and asked if we would compromise and agree to it. (Of course, we’re not on the dais voting, so this line of reasoning was a bit odd.)

We said there shouldn’t be any exemption, and that we don’t compromise on health, but if he really thought it was warranted, why not put it through the committee process so the public can have input? (Evans and Councilmember Michael Brown (D-At Large) slipped the exemption into an unrelated budget measure and blindsided the public health community.)

Evans’ response: “If it went through committee, you would win!”

So there you have it.

A D.C. Councilmember acknowledges that if he were to be aboveboard and let the public have input on a measure designed to weaken an incredibly popular and effective smokefree workplaces law, he wouldn’t be successful.

So he used an underhanded tactic instead.

This also raises a question: Has Councilmember David Catania (I-At Large) abandoned his authority as chair of the Committee on Health to protect the health of hotel workers? It would appear so, given that he voted for two versions of the cigar-event exemption and has yet to insist that any proposal to weaken the law go through his committee.Perhaps he will rise to the occasion and insist that the right procedures are followed. After all, he was a great proponent of the smokefree workplaces bill when it was being debated and was instrumental in it becoming law. We lauded him at the time, with good reason. Let’s hope he still feels strongly enough about about protecting worker health to defend the law that he did so much to enact.

Aug. 25, 2011

The Hon. Kwame Brown Chairman, Council of the District of Columbia 1350 Pennsylvania Ave., Suite 504 Washington, DC 20004

Dear Chairman Brown,

We’re writing to tell you that the information you relied upon to support your vote for an exemption [...]]]> On Thursday, Smokefree DC sent the following letter to D.C. Council Chair Kwame Brown. We ccd the entire Council.

Aug. 25, 2011

The Hon. Kwame Brown
Chairman, Council of the District of Columbia
1350 Pennsylvania Ave., Suite 504
Washington, DC 20004

Dear Chairman Brown,

We’re writing to tell you that the information you relied upon to support your vote for an exemption to the smokefree workplaces law last month was incorrect.

In the July 12 meeting, in which the Council attempted to correct its June error and narrow the exemption, you stated that the amendment being considered would permit just two cigar-smoking events a year.

That is wrong.

The language exempted hotels that can hold events for 500 people or more. Below is a list of 25 hotels that meet that criteria, along with links to the hotel sites where the room capacities are described. The list also is available at http://tinyurl.com/3umt3tp. Under the July 12 language, 25 hotels can hold a cigar-smoking event annually.

Since the mayor vetoed the measure passed in July, we are now back to the underlying, overly broad language that permits 79 hotels to hold one cigar-smoking event each annually.

Chairman Brown, you were such a strong supporter of smokefree workplaces when the debate over the measure was raging, and we greatly appreciated it. We also appreciate that you voiced your support of smokefree workplaces during the July 12 meeting. We urge you to continue to stand up for the right of all workers to breathe clean air. You need not worry about Fight Night going to Maryland; that state has a strong smokefree workplaces law as well.

We hope the Council will revisit the matter in September. We urge you at that time to repeal the smokefree exemption altogether.

However, if you and other Councilmembers truly believe an exemption to the very popular smokefree workplaces bill is warranted, surely you would agree that such an exemption should go through the committee process – not be tacked onto an unrelated measure and voted on with no public hearing.

Thank you. We look forward to your response. Below is the list of 25 hotels that can handle events for 500 or more people.

Sincerely,

Angela Bradbery
Co-founder, Smokefree DC

1. Capital Hilton
1001 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036
Presidential Ballroom  7,776 sq ft  108.00′ x 72.50′ Banquet Seating for 650
http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/meeting_space.jhtml;jsessionid=Y2H1DSI2DNIKYCSGBIV222Q?ctyhocn=DCASHHH

2. The Fairmont, Washington, DC
2401 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
Grand Ballroom Banquet Seating for 540
http://www.fairmontmeetings.com/assets/fairmont/worldwide/AdvancedRoomFinder.shtml?city=Washington&state=D%2EC%2E&country=USA&guests=0&meeting=0

3. Georgetown University Hotel and Conference Center
3800 Reservoir Road NW, Washington DC 20057
Grand Ballroom 109×97 10,573 sq. ft. Banquet Seating for 870
http://www.acc-guhotelandconferencecenter.com/meetings/

4. Grand Hyatt Washington
1000 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
Independence Ballroom 110′x159′ 17,490 sq. ft. Banquet Seating for 1,648
http://grandwashington.hyatt.com/hyatt/images/hotels/wasgh/capacity.pdf

5. Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill
400 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001
REGENCY BALLROOM 115’ x 98’ 11,388 Banquet Seating for 1,030
http://washingtonregency.hyatt.com/hyatt/images/hotels/wasrw/capacity.pdf

6. JW Marriott
1331 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004
Grand Ballroom 180×76 13,680 sq. ft. Banquet seating for 1,100
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/event-planning/floor-plans/wasjw-jw-marriott-washington-dc/

7. L’Enfant Plaza Hotel
480 L’Enfant Plaza, SW Washington, D.C. 20024
Grand Ballroom 5355 105′ X 51′ Reception space for 800
http://www.lenfantplazahotel.com/meetings_and_events/floor_plans.html

8. The Madison
1177 15th St. NW, Washington, DC 20005
Dolley Madison Ballroom 3,296 sq. ft. 68′ x 49′ Reception space for 500
http://www.madisonhoteldc.com/pdf/MadisonLR.pdfton, DC 20005

9. Mandarin Oriental
1330 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20024
Grand Ballroom 8,298 sq. ft. Banquet seating for 550
http://www.mandarinoriental.com/washington/meetings/meeting_space/

10. Washington Marriott at Metro Center
775 12th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
Grand Ballroom 6,421 sq ft  127’x51’ Banquet seating for 500
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/event-planning/floor-plans/wasmc-washington-marriott-at-metro-center/

11. Omni Shoreham Hotel
2500 Calvert Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Regency Ballroom – 17,130 sq. ft. Banquet Seating for 1,500
http://www.omnihotels.com/FindAHotel/WashingtonDCShoreham/MeetingFacilities/SpecificationsAndFloorPlans.aspx

12. The Mayflower Renaissance
1127 Connecticut Avenue NW · Washington, DC 20036
Grand Ballroom 7,656 sq ft 132’x58’ Banquet Seating for 700
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/event-planning/floor-plans/wassh-the-mayflower-renaissance-washington-dc-hotel/

13. Renaissance Washington DC
999 Ninth Street NW · Washington, DC 20001
Grand Ballroom 19,032 sq ft, 122×156 Banquet seating for 1,300
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/event-planning/travel/wasrb-renaissance-washington-dc-downtown-hotel/

14. The Ritz-Carlton Washington DC
1150 22nd Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037
The Ritz-Carlton Ballroom 10586 sq ft.  86’ x 123’  Banquet seating for 840
http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/WashingtonDC/Meetings/RoomDetails/Default.htm

15. W Washington DC
515 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
Great Room  -  99.0′ x 65.0′  6,205sq. ft.  Banquet Seating for 500
https://www.starwoodhotels.com/whotels/property/meetings/overview_map.html?propertyID=3279

16. Washington Hilton
1919 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, District of Columbia, United States 20009
International Ballroom  35,525 sq. ft. 145′ x 245′ Banquet Seating for 2,670
http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/meeting_space.jhtml?ctyhocn=DCAWHHH

17. Washington Marriott Wardman Park
2660 Woodley Road NW · Washington, District Of Columbia 20008 USA
Marriott Ballroom Salons 234’x89’ Banquet Seating for 2,800
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/event-planning/travel/wasdt-washington-marriott-wardman-park/

Here are hotels that can handle 500 reception style:

18. Embassy Suites Washington DC Convention Center
900 10th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
Capital Ballroom 5,568  sq. ft. 32′ x 174′ Reception space for 700
http://embassysuites.hilton.com/en/es/hotels/meeting_space.jhtml;jsessionid=LTNWFWG4NHECGCSGBJC222Q?ctyhocn=WASCCES

19. Four Seasons
2800 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20007
Corcoran Ballroom 59′ x 79′ 4,602 sq. ft. Reception space for 500
http://www.fourseasons.com/washington/meeting_results/

20. The Liaison Capitol Hill
415 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001
The Metropolitan 80′ x 55′ 4,400 sq. ft. Reception space for 550
http://www.affinia.com/imgs/Meeting-Floor-Plans/The-Liaison/New-The-Liaison-Meeting-Insert.pdf

21. Washington Court Hotel
525 New Jersey Avenue, Washington, DC 20001
Grand Ballroom 87’ x 44’ 3850 sq. ft. Reception space for 700

http://www.washingtoncourthotel.com/meetings-and-events

22. Washington Marriott
1221 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
West End Ballroom 110×44 4,840 sq. ft. Reception space for 600
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/event-planning/floor-plans/waswe-washington-marriott/

23. Washington Plaza Hotel
10 Thomas Circle, Washington, DC 20005
Federal Hall  70’ x 58’  4060 sq. ft. Reception space for 500
http://www.washingtonplazahotel.com/meetings/capacity-chart.cfm

24. The Westin Washington DC City Center
1400 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
National Ballroom 53’ x 130’ 6272 sq. ft. Reception space for 600
http://www.westinwashingtondccitycenter.com/capacity-chart

25. Willard Intercontinental
1401 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004
74 X 64  4,736 sq. Ft. Reception space for 600
http://www.intercontinental.com/intercontinental/en/gb/locations/hotel-features/event-facilities/meeting-rooms/washingtondc-thewillard