KYW Newsradio Team Coverage

After leaving the controversial idea dormant for months, Philadelphia City Council on Thursday –- by the slimmest of margins -– suddenly approved a bill that bans smoking in most public places in the city:

”The ayes are nine, the nays are six.”

KYW's Mike Dunn reports that the tally signaled City Council’s historic final approval of a smoking ban in Philadelphia. Local taverns would be exempt.

Passage came after the sponsor, Michael Nutter, did some private arm-twisting of colleagues:

“We’ve done good work today. It’s a great day for the city, it’s a great day for workers and patrons.”

The smoking ban will be amended when Council returns in the fall, to permanently exempt local taverns. Those owners said a smoking ban will kill their business.

One of the key "yes" votes was from Councilman Jim Kenney, who had until now been opposed. He says a smoking ban was inevitable:

”I’ve had people actually out in bars and restaurants who are smokers, who said to me, 'I wish you’d pass it so I’d smoke less or I’d quit.' ”

Also exempted under the plan are outdoor cafés and tobacco shops.

It was City Council's final session before breaking for the summer.

If the mayor signs the bill, it will go into effect in January 2007.  Mayor Street is leaning toward supporting the smoking ban, but says he is not yet sure whether the bill -- sponsored by his longtime rival Michael Nutter -- achieves enough of his objectives to sign it into law.

KYW's Paul Kurtz sampled reaction to the news from bar patrons in Northern Liberties.

Tom Bonner sipped on a pint of beer and dragged on his cigarette as he contemplated the citywide smoking ban.

"It started in California, then spread to Delaware and New York.  Looks like Philadelphia's next."

Is he going to go along with a smoking ban if it becomes law?

"Sure, I'll walk outside -- it's easy."

But does he agree with the law?  "No."

For non-smokers like Rich Whalen, the ban is long overdue:

"I think it makes sense, looking at a number of places I've been.  Sometimes the smoke gets so overwhelming it makes it difficult to sit back, eat comfortably, and enjoy."

Here is how each councilmember voted on the smoking ban:

Councilmembers-At-Large