Commissioner stands by ban support

Highberger, in online chat, says second-hand smoke dangers merit prohibition

City Commissioner Boog Highberger defended his support of a smoking ban Wednesday during an online chat with Journal-World readers.

“There is substantial evidence that second-hand smoke in the workplace, including bars and restaurants, is a health risk for people who work in those places,” Highberger said.

“Some people say that if you don’t want to be exposed to cigarette smoke, you can work somewhere else,” he said. “To me, that is sort of like a coal mine owner saying to his or her workers that if you don’t want black lung disease, you can work somewhere else.”

And despite fears of bar and restaurant owners who believe the ban will hurt business when it goes into effect July 1, Highberger said he thought they’d see more customers.

“I can’t tell you how many people I’ve talked to that have told me that they can’t go out because they have health problems or that they choose not to go out just because they can’t stand the smoke,” he said.

Highberger also took questions about stop signs, the city bus system and Wal-Mart during the hour he was online. He said he saw no reason to oppose Wal-Mart’s expansion on south Iowa Street, despite the battle to keep the retailer from building a new store at Sixth Street and Wakarusa Drive.

“That area of Lawrence is already zoned for large-scale commercial use,” Highberger said of south Iowa Street. He added, “I’m not going to commit one way or the other to the proposal at this time.”