Alhambra May Exempt Bingo From Smoking Ban

Responding to a drop in attendance at bingo games sponsored by a local church and temple, the Alhambra City Council Monday night voted to consider exempting such games from the city’s ban on smoking in public places.

Spokesmen for St. Therese Church and Temple Beth Torah said that shortly after the Alhambra smoking ban took effect in July, attendance at their fund-raising bingo games began tumbling.

Under the proposed ordinance, bingo games conducted on private property and sponsored by religious groups or charitable organizations would qualify for the exemption. Also, bingo sponsors would have to install smoke reducers in the ceiling and provide smoke-filtering ashtrays. If the bingo room has more than 40 players, at least 25% of the seats must be reserved for nonsmokers. A final vote on the exemption is scheduled Jan. 8.