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Community groups urge city to preserve no-smoking ordinance after council change they say creates a loophole
Summary
Community advocates told the committee that a recent city-council modification removed the term 'bar' from the long-standing no-smoking ordinance and urged members to circulate advocacy letters asking the mayor and council to restore stronger protections.
Several community advocates told the meeting they are worried that a recent city-council change to Laredo's long-standing no-smoking ordinance will create a loophole that allows cigar lounges and similar venues to expand indoor smoking and potentially sell alcohol.
A community advocate noted the ordinance has protected public indoor spaces for more than 20 years and said the recent change removed the specific word “bar,” which advocates fear will enable new operators to argue for broader exceptions. The speaker asked committee members to sign an advocacy letter and said that hundreds of community members spoke at the council hearing opposing the amendment.
Advocates said one business sought a liquor license for a cigar lounge and that council members had other options—such as a membership model—that would not require changing the ordinance. “We don't want this to weaken the ordinance even more,” one advocate said, urging the committee to forward an advocacy letter to the mayor and council.
Committee members acknowledged the concern and said staff would circulate the requested materials and links for members to sign and share. No formal action by the committee was recorded beyond agreeing to help distribute information and signatures for the advocacy letter.
