Mayor Dave Cieslewicz announced Monday he wants to delay an ordinance banning smoking in all bars, restaurants and indoor places until 2006, saying it might be \premature"" and could potentially cause problems to enact it in 2005.
The Madison Public Health Commission, which was set to consider the blanket smoking ban, delayed action after Cieslewicz's statement.
""I am waiting for a good reason on why the health of the workers that would be exposed to the effects of second-hand smoke for an additional year are not being factored into that decision,"" said Ald. Steve Holtzman, District 19, who proposed the ban.
He added only approximately three dozen restaurants will benefit from this additional year, and called Cieslewicz's announcement a classic case of the profits of a few businesses placed above the health of workers.
Holtzman said it was compelling to hear health professionals detail the dangers of second-hand smoke, and added he will be very interested to hear if there is a health-related reason for Cieslewicz's decision.
Teresa Ryan, spokesperson for Smoke-Free Madison, said she does not think Cieslewicz will slow down their campaign for smoke-free city establishments.
""The current ordinance has been inefficient and difficult to enforce,"" she said. ""This is just a public health issue. I just think we need to focus on the purpose of this ordinance.""
The ordinance adopted by Madison in 2002 gives a certain date to area restaurants to be smoke-free. Establishments that draw 50 percent or more of their profits from liquor sales, however, can still allow customers to smoke.
According to Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, the city should not abandon this ordinance, saying smokers deserve at least one place, namely a bar, where they can light up.
Verveer added the new proposed ordinance could be a ""logistical nightmare"" for downtown campus bars.
He said if the city bans smoking in these bars, customers going outside for a brief smoke will interfere with the lines that form outside campus bars every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. Bars will have to decide how to let these people back in and decide what happens to their drinks when they leave for a smoke.
""I just think it's creating a lot of potential confusion and logistical nightmare for the bars, their employees and customers,"" he said.
