Tobacco Firms Fueled Bid to Halt Smoking Ban

A petition drive to overturn Los Angeles’ restaurant smoking ban, depicted as led by local restaurateurs, was bankrolled almost exclusively by East Coast tobacco interests, according to a campaign disclosure statement released Friday.

The statement, filed with the city’s Ethics Commission, lists tobacco companies and their subsidiaries as giving $211,355 of the nearly $216,000 spent by the Los Angeles Hospitality Coalition in an attempt to reverse the ban.

Despite the massive infusion from Philip Morris USA, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and others, the city clerk’s office ruled this month that opponents had failed to collect the 58,275 signatures required to force a vote.

With the petition thrown out, the ordinance took effect Aug. 2, preventing patrons from lighting up in nearly 7,000 Los Angeles eateries.

But opponents of the ordinance, approved by the City Council in June, have vowed not to let the issue die. They are to appear in court this month to ask for another review of the petitions.

Smoking interests are also hoping to resurrect restaurant smoking through a bill making its way through the Legislature. The proposal by Assemblyman Curtis Tucker Jr. (D-Inglewood) would allow smoking in restaurants and take away the city’s authority to pass laws to the contrary.

Nonsmoking activists said Friday that the campaign disclosure statement will bolster public support for smoking restrictions and against cigarette makers.

“The tobacco industry is aware that most Californians hate them and view them as corrupt and sleazy,” said Mark Pertschuk, co-director of the Berkeley-based Americans for Nosmokers’ Rights. “They are hiding behind sham organizations and trying to give a fraudulent impression that they have substantial local support.”

Philip Morris, R.J. Reynolds and the other tobacco firms listed on the report could not be reached for comment Friday afternoon.

But Dana W. Reed, a lawyer representing the Hospitality Coalition, insisted that the impetus for fighting the smoking ban is local.

“The vast majority of the contributions came from Southern California businessmen who will be affected by this ordinance,” Reed said. “And they want the public to be able to vote on it.”

In fact, of the 83 companies and individuals contributing to the Hospitality Coalition, 65 were from the Los Angeles area. But they gave only about $4,000 of the nearly $216,000 for the campaign.

R.J. Reynolds led the way with cash donations of $76,279 and by spending $4,660 to pay for a mailer. Two of the company’s subsidiaries--Miller Brewing Co. and Kraft General Foods-- kicked in $10,000 apiece.

Philip Morris gave $77,662; Lorillard Tobacco Co., $16,716; American Tobacco Co., $15,578 and United States Tobacco Co., $1,500.

Most of the money, more than $158,000, went to a Northern California firm that organized the signature-gathering campaign.

Pertschuk said the massive infusion of cash was one of the most aggressive in a series of campaigns by tobacco interests to overturn California no smoking laws.

“This report illustrates how out-of-state tobacco corporations are out to crush the local revolution against tobacco that is occurring in California,” Pertschuk said.

The state’s cities and counties have taken the lead nationally in prohibiting smoking in restaurants. Of the 70 cities nationwide that ban the practice, 60 are in California.

A Times poll this year found that 64% of Los Angeles residents support a ban on smoking in restaurants.