Support grows for reversing smoking ban
Almost twice the number of required signatures have been gathered for a voter initiative that would reverse the non-smoking ordinance adopted by Tempe residents six months ago, according to the chairman of the group sponsoring the campaign.
An estimated 20,000 signatures reportedly have been obtained so far; only slightly more than 11,000 are needed.
Rich Bank, a downtown bar owner heading the drive, says the group has suffered severe economic repercussions as a result of the ordinance’s passage and now is asking for a return to previous, smoking-allowed rules.
Although Bank has said he would prefer that the Tempe City Council simply invalidate the no-smoking ordinance based on the large number of petition signatures, the city attorney’s office has indicated the council may not have the legal authority to do so.
Mayor Neil Giuliano also has said he does not favor such action and, moreover, that he will do his best to discourage the holding of a special election on the matter should petition signatures prove to meet the required minimum.
The next regularly scheduled election on which such a ballot measure could appear is scheduled for March 2004.