March 17, 2005

Statement of Clean Air Council on Philadelphia City Council's Inaction on the Smoke-Free Workplaces Bill

Thurm Brendlinger, Tobacco Program Manager:

"City Council's inaction is extremely disappointing. By failing to take action on this important measure today, City Council has missed a golden opportunity to protect the health of Philadelphia's workforce and general public.

"The City should continue its long tradition of protecting workers' rights by addressing the problem secondhand smoke, an indoor air quality hazard that impacts the health of thousands of local workers. A large number of other cities and states have already tackled the problem of secondhand smoke head on. City Council should embrace its responsibility to make Philadelphia a healthier, more pleasant place to work and play in.

"We hope those Council members who have opposed this initiative will use this time to reconsider their positions in order to protect the health and well-being of restaurant workers and patrons."

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BACKGROUND: After years of work, the Philadelphia City Council was expected to vote today on Bill #050063, a public health measure that would have made workplaces in the city - from restaurants and bars, to offices and nail salons - completely smoke-free. Secondhand smoke contains 69 different carcinogens and is known to cause lung cancer, bronchitis, asthma attacks and heart disease.