Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Many downtown businesses started a petition Friday against the tobacco free ordinance in the city of Norcross.
Updated, 11 a.m. After spearheading the tobacco free ordinance, Councilman Ross Kaul announced at Wednesday's PDC meeting that he has asked to repeal the initiative for the June policy work session. Check out the full article here. -- Many businesses in downtown Norcross have taken part in a petition against the tobacco free ordinance that passed during the May city council meeting. The ordinance, which bans all tobacco products from being used on all city property such as sidewalks and city parking lots, is scheduled to go into effect July 1. In order to gain signatures against the ban, downtown businesses such as 45 South Cafe and Good Things placed petition sheets in their establishments Friday. Would you be willing to sign the petition…
Friday, May 11, 2012
Some people around town think so.
Updated, 9:15 a.m. After the news of the tobacco free ordinance passing at Monday's city council meeting, the city seems to have varying opinions on whether it's good for Norcross or not. The ordinance states that the use of tobacco products, including smokeless tobacco, are to be banned from all city property: city parks, city buildings, city parking lots and sidewalks. The ban will go into effect July 1, and fines start at $50 and will increase up to $800 depending on how often someone is cited for tobacco use. Ross Kaul, the councilman who spearheaded the ban, has explained multiple times that the reason behind the ordinance is to improve the quality of life by eliminating secondhand smoke for all, especially the children and elderly. …
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Tobacco use would be prohibited on all city property, including parks and sidewalks, but not the streets.
At Monday's monthly council meeting, the Norcross City Council voted 3-1 in favor of a no smoking ordinance, banning the use of all tobacco products on city property. "It's about the quality of life," said Councilman Ross Kaul, who spearheaded the ban. "I just think that everybody feels it's the direction that we should go." A ban on smoking inside city buildings has been active for some time, so the new Tobacco Free Facilities Ordinance makes it all inclusive: tobacco use would be prohibited on all city property, including parks and sidewalks, but not the streets. What do you think of the tobacco ban? Tell us in the comments. With Mayor Pro Tem Andrew Hixson officiating the meeting since Mayor Bucky Johnson was absent (therefore, Hixson …
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
The tobacco-free ordinance, the old Water Works building and Iron Sky were discussed.
Many topics were covered in Monday's lengthy policy work session for the city of Norcross, and it prompted lots of dialogue among its citizens. After a long discussion from all sides on tobacco use in the city, the council decided that the ordinance will be voted on in the city council meeting in May. Councilman Ross Kaul said the ordinance would prohibit the use of tobacco products within 20 feet of all parks, trails and public buildings. The decision to save or demolish the old Water Works building on Barton Street brought a large discussion, too. No decision was made at the session, so the topic will be back at another meeting. The council discussed if the Iron Sky surveillance system should be updated from 11 cameras to 30. With the …
Monday, April 16, 2012
The city of Norcross will discuss the ordinance Monday night.
A few weeks ago, Norcross councilman Ross Kaul announced that an ordinance to prohibit smoking in all city parks would be proposed in the next policy work session. Kaul brought up the issue at a Progressional Development Committee meeting, which stirred some debate from both sides. "Secondhand smoking is worse for younger children and the elderly than primary," said Kaul. "I say no smoking in our parks, [and] no smoking where our children or our families are." All tobacco products would be banned, added Kaul. Norcross Patch had a poll shortly after asking for the public's stance on the subject. As of early Monday, 75 percent of voters agree with the ban. Eleven percent believe there should be designated areas for smoking and non-smoking, …
Thursday, April 5, 2012
The city is considering a no smoking ordinance for all its parks.
At the Progressive Development Committee meeting this week, councilman Ross Kaul announced that he'll be proposing a no smoking ordinance for all the parks in the city of Norcross at the next policy work session. "Secondhand smoking is worse for younger children and the elderly than primary," said Kaul. "I say no smoking in our parks, [and] no smoking where our children or our families are." The ordinance would include all tobacco products, not just smoking. The initiative was addressed in the March policy work session, and a proposed ordinance will be available for the next session April 16 at 6:30 p.m. at Norcross City Hall. The session is open to the public. Before the session, though, we want to know: What do you think about it? Do you…
Michael J. McFadden
2:10 am on Monday, June 4, 2012
Lee, thank you for noting my answer to your previous concern. Oh.. wait... I guess you forgot to do that. And so now you fall back on admitting that you yourself are able to find NO real fault with our work (not surprising) and can fault it only on the basis that we did not polish it up for submission to a medical journal (Antismokers generally don't really count economics journals as offering "… more ›