Questions about a proposed ban on smoking in Lawrence bars and restaurants dominated an online chat Thursday between Journal-World readers and Mayor Mike Rundle.

Rundle reaffirmed his support for such a ban, saying it would protect the health of workers in those establishments. He rejected calls to put the issue to a citywide vote. The Lawrence City Commission, he suggested, will decide the matter.

“This issue, like many, has public health and safety aspects,” Rundle said, “and our job is to deal with those issues and concerns.”

One reader asked if the commission — between its ban on private fireworks on the Fourth of July and the proposed smoking ban — planned “any other suspensions of their civil rights and civil liberties.”

“With all due respect, I question whether this infringes on civil rights or liberties,” Rundle said. “If we do venture into this area, I think we have to talk about the right of nonsmokers to enjoy their freedom from smoke.”

Rundle was asked about other topics, too:

6News video: Lawrence mayor chats with residents online New mayor discusses key city issues in online chat

• On a proposed city resolution criticizing the federal Patriot Act: “Federal law is not something off-limits to other levels of government. We lobby the Kansas Legislature throughout the session, and we (communicate) with our delegation in Washington every year.”
• On crumbling streets in North Lawrence: “We have not done a good job of fairly — let me emphasize, FAIRLY — shifting the costs related to new development. If we did have policies that accomplished that, the established areas such as North Lawrence might see more of their tax dollars returning to assist with the infrastructure in their areas.”
• On the possibility of a yes-no community vote on a Wal-Mart for Sixth Street and Wakarusa Drive. “My short answer is no … I’m not sure, but Kansas statutes may specifically exclude putting planning issues such as this one to a public vote.”