Duarte : Smoking Law Stays Intact
The city’s smoking ordinance will not be expanded, the City Council decided Tuesday.
Duarte now prohibits smoking in elevators, public meeting rooms, theaters, auditoriums and public restrooms. Restaurants that seat 50 or more customers must designate at least half of their seats for nonsmoking patrons.
Former Councilman John Hitt, who resigned from the council this week, had pushed for consideration of a tougher law modeled after an ordinance in San Luis Obispo that prohibits smoking in restaurants, bars and stores.
Mayor John Fasana, who has met with about 25 restaurant owners, said the restaurateurs were concerned that a stricter law would be bad for business. He also said they voiced willingness to gradually reduce the size of their smoking areas.
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