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MUNCIE -- A fire in an entryway of a College Park Apartment building displaced residents, but caused little damage early Wednesday.
Muncie firefighters arrived on the scene shortly after 4 a.m., after a resident called about smoke in the hallway at the complex at 4500 Bethel Ave.
Fire Chief Eric Wilson said the fire started in mulch that was next to the entryway and the cause was likely a discarded cigarette.
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New Albany mayor Doug England vetoed the ban, but recommended changes.
Council member Stephen Price says the council won't consider those changes.
I would like to thank New Albany Mayor England for his veto of the smoking ordinance. It’s nice for a change to see a government official stand up to the “If I don’t like it then you can’t do it” crowd. What puzzles me is this: instead of trying to ram your beliefs down the throats of those who don’t agree with you through the force of law, why don’t some of you enterprising individuals open your own nonsmoking restaurants, bars, etc.?
It's the duty of our legislators to provide a healthy environment for citizens. I encourage Richmond Common Council to adopt the proposed smoke-free ordinance. It is past time to do so!
A 21-year-old man was beaten and shot in the leg Thursday night after he didn’t light a man’s cigarette, according to police.
Police were called to a home in the 1100 block of North Fremont Street about 10:12 p.m., and found the man, who lives nearby, with cuts on his face, his teeth knocked out and a gunshot wound in the leg.
The man and his girlfriend, who lives at the home, told police that they were sitting on the porch when they were approached by two men in dark clothing.
The victim climbed down from the porch to talk with the men and was asked to light a cigarette, according to police.
The city's future as a smoke-free municipality is back to square one after the City Council voted down an ordinance on Thursday that would have prohibited smoking in the city's work and public places.
Most council members voted no on the basis that the ordinance wasn't comprehensive enough, allowing exemptions for taverns, clubs and Hoosier Park Racing and Casino, among others. They were applauded for their decision by an audience full of people wearing smoke-free Anderson shirts who called for a stronger ordinance.
The New Albany City Council did not take a vote to override Mayor Doug England’s veto of the smoking ban ordinance Thursday, but the issue may not be dead.
Council President Jeff Gahan formed a committee comprised of council members Dan Coffey, Bob Caesar and Pat McLaughlin — all of whom voted in favor of the ban — to research England’s proposal to exclude bars, private clubs and restaurants that serve and employ people over the age of 21 from the smoking restrictions.
Councilwoman Diane McCartin Benedetti told Gahan she didn’t like the makeup of the committee, since there’s no one on it who voted against the ban.
New Albany's proposed smoking ban has been snuffed out by the city's mayor. Mayor Doug England announced his veto of the new ordinance Tuesday morning, and it's leaving council members on both sides of the issue feeling snubbed. . . .
First District Councilman Dan Coffey for the ban. "We have tried and tried and tried working with this mayor, but he chooses not to."
Jazz musician Jamie Abersold does not understand the exemptions or hesitation to sign what was already passed. "Indy is smoke free - the musicians love it. New York is smoke free. And California."
New Albany's mayor cast a deciding vote that killed the smoking ban approved by city council.
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But Mayor Doug England also said if the council will consider a few amendments, he'll support it.
for now. New Albany's mayor says he will veto a smoking ban ordinance passed by city council, but the fight isn't over yet.
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"I am really trying to heal our divided community via compromise," says New Albany Mayor Doug England.
New Albany's mayor says no to a smoking ban, but his veto sends the discussion right back to city council.
I am really trying to heal our divided community via compromise.New Albany (IN) Mayor Doug England, who vetoed a smoking ban, and has proposed a new one that would establish exemptions for private clubs, or restaurants and bars that only allow patrons over the age of 21. No divisiveness there!
New Albany Mayor Doug England has asked the City Council to take another look at the comprehensive smoking ban it passed last month, announcing Tuesday his decision to veto the ordinance.
England has sent a revised measure to the City Clerk's office that would exempt private clubs, bars and restaurants with employees and customers over age 21, if passed by the council.
"I am really trying to heal our divided community via compromise," said England at a press conference in front of the City-County Building. "This is not as black and white as the activists on either side of the issue would have you believe."
The council can overturn England's veto with a 6-3 vote, but one of the four members who voted against the comprehensive ban would have to switch sides and join the five who voted in favor of it.
Saying he was acting "in the spirit of compromise," New Albany Mayor Doug England yesterday vetoed an ordinance that would have banned smoking in most enclosed public places, including bars and restaurants.
Instead of the comprehensive ban outlined in the measure that the City Council approved 5-4 last month, England recommended exceptions to permit smoking in:
Bars, and restaurants with bars, if they serve and employ only people 21 and older.
Private clubs such as American Legion halls.
"I pledge to sign" an ordinance with those changes, England said at a news conference.
A compromise smoking-ban ordinance proposed by New Albany, Ind., Mayor Doug England this week, as he vetoed a more comprehensive one that the city council had approved, was referred to a council committee last night.
The council did not attempt to override England's veto, which would have required at least six votes. The council had approved the ordinance 5-4 last month. England announced his veto Tuesday, but promised to sign an ordinance that includes his recommendations.
"We have accepted the mayor's veto as final," council President Jeff Gahan said. . . .
Under England's version, smoking would be allowed in private clubs, in bars, and in restaurants with bars that employ and serve only people 21 and older.
It was disappointing to see New Albany Mayor Doug England veto an ordinance that would have banned smoking in most enclosed public places, including places where folks eat and drink. . . .
The City Council isn't likely to override the veto, although that would be a sensible ending to this effort at civic uplift. An override would require at least six votes; the ban so far only has five. And, there's no indication anybody is going to have a change of heart, or mind.
So the question becomes whether a new version of the ban, with those added provisions, would be worth passing.
The answer is yes. Any ban is better than no ban. . . .
When he announced the veto, Mr. England took no questions. That came as no surprise. There was no way to justify his dismissal of all the evidence and all the logic.
New Albany deserved better leadership on this.
WAVE 3 talked to people in New Albany to get an idea of how they feel about the smoking ban. Nearly everyone we spoke to was for it.
"I'm for the smoking ban because for people that don't smoke, to have to sit and breathe in the smoke is very irritating and it makes you feel like you are ruining your lungs being there," said New Albany resident Luann Argetsinger.
Some who smoked in the past no longer want to deal with it when they're out in public.
"I think people ought to be able to smoke if they want but not if it's going to interfere with other people," said resident Kenneth Bristle.
One resident we talked with, an occasional smoker, said he's prefer a smoking ban.