Smokefree DC is a citizen-based group whose goal is to promote smokefree environments in Washington, DC.

Zukerberg tops grading of questionnaires for April 23 special election

flickr photo courtesy of aka_lusi

We weren’t expecting this, but here are the results of Smokefree DC’s grading of our candidate questionnaires: marijuana defense attorney Paul Zukerberg topped the field with a “B,” while former Washington Post reporter Elissa Silverman followed with a “D” and ANC commissioner Matthew Frumin received an “F.”

Green Party candidate Perry [...]

Update: Montgomery County Council extends protections for non-smokers

Update: The Montgomery County Council today extended protections for non-smokers from secondhand smoke. Way to go!

One of the provisions of the measure makes bus stops smokefree.

Will the District follow suit? It should.

Montgomery County Councilmember Nancy Floreen, who sponsored the measure, noted:

There is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. We are stewards of public [...]

Grosso, Mendelson top Smokefree DC candidate questionnaire

flickr photo courtesy of kristib2pea

The final questionnaires are in.

Of the candidates who responded, two rose to the top: David Grosso, who is running at large and received an “A,” and Council Member Phil Mendelson, who is running for Council chair and received a “B.”

The remaining candidates who answered the questionnaire primarily got Ds and [...]

New study: Secondhand smoke can harm those at outdoor bars, restaurants

Here’s some compelling evidence in support of making outdoor bars and restaurants smokefree: A new study shows that people who are exposed to secondhand smoke at outdoor bars and restaurants can suffer the same kinds of health effects as people exposed inside.

In the study, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, researchers collected urine and saliva samples [...]

New study shows staggering cost of secondhand smoke in Indiana

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 [...]

More evidence to support smokefree laws: Mayo Clinic study shows drop in heart attacks

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 [...]

D.C. Council approves permanent exemption to smokefree workplaces law for cigar-smoking events

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) [...]

Circumventing the public necessary to win smokefree exemption, Jack Evans says

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 [...]

While D.C. weakens its smokefree law, Montgomery and Howard strengthen theirs

Flickr photo courtesy of A Nu Life

While the D.C. Council is busy weakening the city’s popular smokefree workplaces law, neighboring jurisdictions are doing the opposite.

Montgomery County has passed a law making the common areas of multiunit housing, such as apartment and condo lobbies and laundry rooms, somkefree. It also requires the area within 25 [...]

Jack Evans’ arrogance knows no bounds

He’s at it again.

D.C. Councilmember Jack Evans (Ward 2) has introduced a bill to carve out a permanent exemption to the very popular smokefree workplaces law, which made all indoor workplaces smokefree.

You recall that Evans tried this last year. He was successful in pushing through “emergency” legislation to do a favor his friends in [...]