ANR UPDATE, 31(1), Spring 2012

Tales From the Trenches: Springfield's Fight for Smokefree Air

Guest Editorial by Stephen Hall;
Communications Director for the American Heart Association in Springfield, MO.

In 2003, the City of Springfield, Missouri implemented a weak smokefree ordinance, riddled with exemptions that left a majority of workplaces unprotected. Closing the loopholes in the years that followed initially proved unsuccessful. Strategic work by community advocates to build grassroots support for a new smokefree law began in late 2008.

By the spring of 2010, indoor air quality testing at venues throughout the city revealed extremely high levels of particulate matter pollution inside establishments that permitted smoking. By June of 2010, One Air Alliance, the local smokefree coalition, worked with the City Council to draft a comprehensive law for consideration. At the last minute before voting, Council members in opposition added several exemptions to weaken the ordinance and One Air Alliance withdrew its support. The Mayor then tabled the ordinance. As a last resort, the decision was made to send the issue to the ballot.

In April of 2011, Springfield voters turned out in large numbers and passed one of the strongest smokefree laws in the country. Public health advocates across Missouri celebrated this tremendous victory, but the celebration was short-lived. Within six months, it became necessary to defend the ordinance from an attempt by the City Council to amend it and allow exemptions for certain businesses.

Those amendments would have required a unanimous vote by the Council. However, One Air Alliance found a champion of public health in Councilwoman Cindy Rushefsky - the lone vote to protect the ordinance. Rushefsky's strong and admirable determination was reflected in her quotes in local media: "If I'm alive and present in the meeting, you're not going to have a unanimous vote…and unless and until the voters decide that this is not what they want, then I'm not going to impose my opinion on what the voters have approved," she said.

Unfortunately, despite the excellent work of Springfield's smokefree coalition, an unprecedented level of personal attacks on smokefree advocates and the ordinance continue. A group has now submitted the required signatures to force a new ballot vote to repeal the smokefree law. Voters may be faced with this decision as early as June.

We have every reason to be optimistic that we will ultimately prevail. One Air Alliance has experienced unyielding support from the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights, the local Healthy Living Alliance, and countless other community-based partners and health organizations. Together, we are focused on building a healthier community, which respects the right of every worker to breathe clean indoor air that is free of the toxins found in secondhand smoke.

You can now join ANR or subscribe to ANR UPDATE with your credit card online, via our secure system.

To become an international member, please join ANR or subscribe with your credit card online. International Members have two rates based on preferred delivery option: $75.00US for delivery of the UPDATE newsletter via Air Mail or $40.00US for delivery of a PDF version via email. Please be sure to include your complete mailing address and an email address, if available. We have no way to verify your address or contact you if information is omitted. Thank you for your support!