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Kansas City, MO – Proposed amendments to Kansas City's voter-approved smoking ban will be up in committee this week. KCUR's Elana Gordon reports.
Councilman Ed Ford is sponsoring two separate amendments to the city's current smoking ban. One would allow smoking inside tobacco shops. The other would limit smoking to casino gaming floors. Ford says the current ordinance is too vague when it comes to where smoking is and isn't permitted inside casinos.
Ford: Ameristar has interpreted that as very broadly as to where to allow smoking. The city's health department has interpreted it more narrowly and has ticketed some people smoking on the sidewalks on the casino.
Voters narrowly approved a ban on smoking in all bars and restaurants back in April. Councilman Ford proposed the two changes to the ordinance during last week's public safety committee meeting. He says the committee is scheduled to vote on the amendments this week. If passed, they'll go to the full council for a vote later this month.
Funding for health care coverage on KCUR has been provided by the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City.
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