Smoke-Free Round Rock Decries Recent City Council Action

ROUND ROCK, TX — Officials of Smoke-Free Round Rock, a coalition of leading health organizations and concerned citizens, decried the city's recent decision no to ban indoor smoking at some business currently exempt from a city ordinance that prohibits the practice.

"We are disappointed the Round Rock City Council voted Thursday evening to preserve a smoking exemption for certain businesses, continuing to expose workers and patrons to deadly secondhand smoke," officials said in a prepared statement, referencing council action last week. "The council’s decision means businesses play by two sets of rules when it comes to smoke-free environments."

In a 6-1 vote, Council voted against changing the current ordinance that is in place regulating smoking and vaping in Round Rock. Mayor Craig Morgan was the sole affirmative vote to remove the bars and designated smoking bars exemption.

Related story: City of Round Rock To Maintain Current Smoking Ordinance

“Round Rock’s leadership failed in its task to protect public health and safety by leaving a loophole for bars to allow smoking indoors," Smoke-Free Round Rock officials continued. "It shouldn’t matter if you work at a bar or a bank — no employee should have to breathe deadly secondhand smoke to earn their paycheck."

Officials noted that Round Rock's position on the matter is at odds with prevailing protocols.

“The city’s ordinance is out of step with current standards that prohibit smoking in all indoor workplaces and simply ask those who smoke to step outside, without exception," the group said. "While 100 Texas cities, including Austin and Waco, have recognized the public health dangers of tobacco and enacted comprehensive smoke-free ordinances, Round Rock has gone in the wrong direction. Its citizens deserve better."

In his sole vote supporting the smoking ban, Morgan said: "I do feel that we have a very, very strong responsibility up here [on the dais] because the majority of the laws that we put in place for our city is for the health, safety and welfare for our citizens."

On Monday, Smoke-Free Round Rock officials applauded the mayor's stance: “We appreciate Mayor Craig Morgan’s support and continued leadership on this issue, which highlights his commitment to the health and well-being of Round Rock residents."

While expressing disappointment at the recent council action, Smoke-Free Round Rock officials vowed to continue to lobby for smoke-free establishments across the board.

“It is extremely unfortunate that residents do not yet have the freedom to enjoy an evening out without worrying whether they can breathe easily," officials wrote. "The Smoke-Free Texas coalition and the residents of Round Rock will continue to work with the community and city council to include all indoor workplaces in our city’s smoke-free ordinance, because every Texan deserves the right to breathe clean air. Residents can help our efforts by contacting the city council to voice their support for a comprehensive ordinance that will protect all workers from toxic exposure to secondhand smoke.”

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