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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Student of the Month award presented to Phoenix Ash-Potts ... Shocking facts about electrical safety ... Lithia water fountain on Plaza turned off ... Student of the Month award presented to Phoenix Ash-Potts ... Shocking facts about electrical safety ... Lithia water fountain on Plaza turned off ... OUR VIEW Our View: A burning issue Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Feb. 2, 2016 at 12:01 AM Posted Feb. 2, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News It was only a matter of time before society's decreasing tolerance for cigarette smoking extended outdoors. The City Council tonight will take up a proposed ban on tobacco smoking anywhere downtown. Our immediate reaction is to applaud — tobacco smoke is an annoyance at best and a health hazard at worst to those who do not smoke — but some leeway needs to be maintained for businesses that may be affected. Indoor smoking is already banned. Bars and restaurants resisted that move, but everyone seems to have adjusted. Smoking is also against the law in city parks. And newly legal recreational marijuana cannot be smoked in public. The proposed ban would apply from Hargadine north to Lithia Way and from Gresham and Third streets on the east to Church Street on the west — the same area where the persistent violator ordinance is enforced. While it's a fine idea to keep the air free of tobacco fumes where pedestrian traffic is heaviest, the council should make sure to retain proposed exceptions for bars and restaurants. A bar patron who cannot step outside for a smoke during an evening out might well decide not to patronize downtown establishments in favor of those outside the smoking ban perimeter. The ordinance as proposed allows bars and restaurants to apply for exceptions, which seems only fair. It might be advisable for downtown merchants to work together to identify spots that could serve as outdoor smoking areas for those businesses applying for exceptions. DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Feb. 2, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501