Wednesday, September 14 2011
By April Hunt | The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
DeKalb County Commissioners on Tuesday snuffed an effort to ban smoking in all public places, including parks, bars and strip clubs.
Four of the commissioners present agreed with owners of DeKalb’s eight adult clubs and 20 other nightclubs, that the ban would hurt business.
Commissioners Jeff Rader and Kathie Gannon dissented, and Commissioner Lee May was absent.
“I don’t want us going down a slippery slope where we end up telling people what they can do in their own home,” said Larry Johnson, the commission’s presiding officer. “You start in the business realm and we could have some unintended consequences.”
The vote drew out more than 100 supporters and opponents, who have battled over the proposal since the county Board of Health first unveiled it four months ago.
Story continues at ajc.com...
