Decision lights up LB cigar lounges

Monday, December 08 2008

LONG BEACH - Cigar aficionados could be allowed their own smoking lounges under a proposal the City Council supported Tuesday but that anti-smoking advocates said was a step backwards.

The council voted 5-2 to have City Attorney Robert Shannon write an ordinance amending the city's smoking ban to allow cigar lounges, with several stipulations.

Long Beach was among the first California cities to ban smoking indoors in all public buildings and businesses in 1993. A petition repealed the anti-smoking law the following year and forced the decision into the hands of the voters, who overwhelmingly supported the ordinance.

Decision lights up LB cigar lounges continues...