[Vision2020] Smoking Ordinance: Director of Government Affairs for Boise Office of American Heart Association at Council Meeting

[Ted Moffett]

An excerpt from a news story on last night's Moscow City Council meeting,
stating that the Director of Government Affairs for the Boise office of the
American Heart Association came from south Idaho to attend the meeting on
the smoking ordinance:

Councilman Walter Steed said he believed enacting the ban in Moscow would be
a step toward rectifying its omission from the Idaho Clean Indoor Air Act.

"Smokers do not realize how offensive it is to nonsmokers," councilmember
Wayne Krauss said.

The proposed ordinance was generated after Northwest River Supply owner Bill
Parks addressed the City Council about a potential ban in May.

It also is backed by Katie Whittier, a Moscow resident who has started an
online group promoting a smoke-free Moscow.

Proponents and opponents of the ban packed the council chambers Monday,
filling chairs and standing along the sides of the room.

Neon green "I support smoke free Moscow" stickers winked at councilmembers
from the audience while they discussed the ordinance, and a photo collage of
supporters leaned against a wall.

The unanimous vote elicited a round of applause from the attendees.

Adrean Casper traveled to Moscow from Meridian, Idaho, to attend Monday's
meeting.
"I actually work for the American Heart Association and when I heard that
Moscow was taking the lead, I had to come up here and see what the commotion
is all about," said Casper, Director of Government Affairs for the
association's Boise office.


"As we know, tobacco is the No. 1 cause of preventable death and a bar
worker is 50 percent more likely to die of lung disease than the average
person," she said.

Casper said the association is thrilled about the ordinance.

Moscow resident Chris Norden said he was also excited about the idea of
smoke-free bars.

"I'd like to just make two broad assertions," said Norden, a Lewis-Clark
State College humanities professor. "This is first and foremost a public
health issue. And second of all, that smoking is an addiction."

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Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett
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