Why did the City of Abilene decide to prohibit smoking in public places and in places of employment?
A1. The City Council recognized that secondhand smoke poses a serious public health hazard, that nonsmokers need protection from secondhand smoke exposure and that therefore, regulation by the City Council of the burning of tobacco in public places and places of employment is imperative in order to protect the public health and welfare of the citizens of the City of Abilene. In addition, the City of Abilene held an election on Nov. 7, 2006, to determine whether voters supported such a smoking prohibition. The “no smoking” proposition passed 15,325 in favor of the ban to 7,007 against.
