Showing posts tagged “smoking ban”
Joe Schwartz ·
4 Feb 2010, 1:06 PM ·
2 Comments
Gov. Bev Perdue was beaming when she signed the state’s ban on smoking in bars and restaurants into law in March, saying they’d tackled the “big enchilada” after restricting smoking on college campuses and in the legislature.
“This is really in no exaggeration of the word an absolutely historic day for this great state that was built initially on the backbone of tobacco,” Perdue said among a group of health advocates and lawmakers.
“My hat is off to the General Assembly. I have never been as proud of a body in my entire life.”
Her tone also was congratulatory today as she celebrated a $6.7 million expansion of a tobacco manufacturing company in Rockingham County that will create 35 jobs.
“North Carolina is a great location for international companies looking to expand,” she said in a press release. “Our top business climate and our tremendous workforce continues to be very attractive to growing companies.”
That’s the message. Welcome, thanks for your tax money and your jobs. Don’t even think about bringing your products to lunch with you, though.
Kentucky-based Commonwealth Brands Inc. already owns a tobacco plant in Reidsville where 224 people work, and this addition will allow them to manufacture a new line of cigarette tubes.
North Carolina, business, economy, politics Bev Perdue, Commonwealth Brands, job creation, Reidsville, Rockingham County, smoking ban, tobacco
Joe Schwartz ·
5 Jan 2010, 3:52 PM ·
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The phone calls from patrons, both long-time and new, come about every 20 minutes at Hookah Bliss these days, everyone wanting to know one thing — are you still open?
Yes, for now, owner Adam Bliss tells them.
The Franklin Street hookah haven is open as usual despite a new statewide smoking ban in restaurants and bars that went into effect Sunday making it illegal to sell both food or alcohol and allow tobacco smoke in the same location.
Bliss, with his workers rallying by his side, is staging a nonviolent protest of the new law by staying open in spite of the rule. He knows he gets two warnings before the $200 per violation fines start coming. So far the health department hasn’t been by to visit. No warnings and no tickets.
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Chapel Hill, business, politics Adam Bliss, Hookah Bliss, Orange County Health Department, smoking ban
Lisa Sorg ·
29 Apr 2009, 4:40 PM ·
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The Senate Health Committee passed House Bill 2, which would prohibit smoking in most indoor public spaces. Gone, though is the provision that passed in the House that exempted businesses that don’t employ or serve minors, such as nightclubs. See the House version here:h2v5 And the Senate committee version here: h2v6
It now goes to the full Senate, where it will receive a second reading tomorrow when the currentsenatecalendarat 11 a.m.
North Carolina, politics House Bill 2, Senate Health Committee, smoking ban
Lisa Sorg ·
2 Apr 2009, 2:16 PM ·
2 Comments
In a very impassioned House session, state lawmakers are arguing over a proposed bill to ban smoking indoors in public places, including workplaces. House Bill 2 has been amended four times. Today, Rep. Jennifer Weiss, D-Wake, told critics of the ban that if employers allow smoking in the workplace, they should provide health care for full time employees. (She did not introduce this as an amendment.)
Here’s more of Weiss’ comments:
“If we’re going to talk about rights in this chamber we should talk about responsibilities as well. If you choose to eat too many Twinkies, that affects your health. But if you choose to smoke in an enclosed area that affects other people.”
“If you choose to allow smoking as an employer, you’re choosing to impose a smoky work environment on your employees. What you’re saying is ‘You will work in this environment and you will breathe this smoke.’ If you choose to do this, you need to choose to pay for health insurance for those folks because I as a taxpayer would choose not to pick up tab for the costs of smoking in restaurants.”
“We should give employees the same healthy environment we’ve given ourselves.”
Smoking was banned in the House in 2003.
North Carolina, politics Jennifer Weiss, N.C. legislature, smoking ban
