Ashland City Council to vote on possible public smoking ban

Ashland, Ore. — The Ashland City Council is considering a possible ban on smoking in public places on Tuesday. The ban would prohibit smoking in places of employment, in enclosed areas that are open to the public, and in downtown Ashland.

“That’s where most of the businesses are, and where people gather the most, and where a lot of tourists come through town as well,” Rich Rosenthal said, a City Council member.

The proposed ordinance has been in the works since November. On Tuesday, the Council will vote for the first time on the issue. However, not everyone on the street is was supportive of the idea.

“Smoking’s an addiction,” Charles Hall said, a resident of Ashland. “They’re just picking on people for something that maybe they’re working on, maybe they’re not working on, but it’s something they live with and deal with everyday.”

If the city council approves the ban Tuesday night, a second vote will take place during their next council meeting.