Sun, Jul 20 2008
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Published December 10, 2007 06:14 pm - Crystal Foxworth doesn’t want her 21-month-old baby picking up cigarette butts at the park. Smoking ban lights up Nederland citizen By Amy Moore The Port Arthur News NEDERLAND — Crystal Foxworth doesn’t want her 21-month-old baby picking up cigarette butts at the park.
She also doesn’t want to walk through clouds of cigarette smoke on her way into Nederland businesses and restaurants. These reasons coupled with the dangers of second-hand smoke were the force behind Foxworth as she faced Nederland City Council members to ask for a smoking ban in the city. “This is not against people who smoke, it’s against the effects of second-hand smoke,” the Nederland resident said. “We have a responsibility to our children.” Foxworth addressed the council loaded with information on the dangerous chemicals released from cigarette smoke, causing harm not just to smokers, but to innocent by-standers. She said she is no longer willing to be exposed, or have her children exposed, to those chemicals. “Nederland has an ordinance on noise pollution to protect our ears, but there’s no ordinance to protect our health,” the young mother said. “It makes sense to have a smoking ban to protect ourselves.” Foxworth requested smoking be banned at parks, sports events, hotels and within 25 feet from the entrance of businesses and restaurants. “This is something that has bothered me for years and I just didn’t know what to do about it,” she said. Because the issue of a smoking ban has never before been raised in Nederland, City Manager Andre Wimer said he was unsure of the next steps to take on the issue. One thing he does know, however, is that smoking bans are controversial issues. “This is an issue we need to look at and we need ample opportunities to hear from citizens and businesses,” Wimer said. “Then we can provide the staff with some direction from there.” The city council decided to research the topic and what other cities have done with smoking bans and then discuss the issue further in January. A smoking ban issue would not have to go before voters, Wimer said. The city council can make the decision with an ordinance. He added that individual restaurants can already put smoking bans in place if they chose to do so. “If I can get the public aware and get them out here that’s good enough,” Foxworth said. 
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