After blocking a similar proposal from going to a vote in 2012, the South Bend Common Council is once again looking at implementing a sweeping smoking ban in the city of just more than 100,000 residents.

Four of the nine members, Gavin Ferlic, Fred Ferlic, Valerie Schey and Tim Scott are leading the push to revisit a ban, though Gavin Frelic acknowledged that it would be an uphill battle, telling WNDU that he wasn’t “overly confident.”

A primary source of opposition comes from bars, who along with any indoor business including private clubs would be subject to the ban. Councilman Derek Dieter acknowledged the health concerns that are driving the proposal, but said that he didn’t think it was the council’s place to tell businesses whether or not they can allow smoking or not.

The proposal is scheduled to have its first reading on Monday, April 28, with a vote coming as early as May. If passed, the ordinance would go into effect 60 days after passage, meaning a mid-July implementation date.

 

 

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Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for MLB.com, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.