New York City is doing it, Boston is doing it and even California and Delaware are doing it — Meridian may be next.

Cities and states across the nation are banning smoking in public buildings. California is even considering banning the habit outdoors and at some public beaches.

A ban on smoking in public buildings would suit Meridian resident Jeanette Gossett just fine. Gossett was diagnosed with lung cancer more than eight years ago. The most startling news about that is she never smoked — not even once.

“It was a surprise to me, even though my parents smoked and I worked in a smoky environment,” she said. “But then, people didn’t really know the effects of smoking.”

Gossett said more women die each year from complications due to lung cancer than breast cancer, and she said about half of those who detect the cancer early still succumb.

But Gossett was lucky. A bout with bronchitis led to the early detection and, after a painful surgery, she has been cancer-free since.

“It is not only a crisis for the patient but it’s a crisis for the entire family,” she said. “My family thought I would die.”

Gossett is working with members of the Clean Indoor Air Coalition to ensure an ordinance to prohibit smoking in Meridian’s public places is passed and enforced.

The coalition is working to craft a Clean Indoor Air Act that would prohibit smoking in all workplaces, including bars and restaurants. The act is set to be presented to the Meridian City Council at its Nov. 21. The meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. at the Meridian Police Department.

A smoking ban passed the city council in late 2004, but was vetoed by Meridian Mayor John Robert Smith. Smith said Friday he could not comment on whether or not he plans to veto the new ordinance if it passes.

“In all fairness, I can’t comment on something I haven’t seen,” Smith said. “It would depend on the particulars of the ordinance, but I would need to read it and understand it before I make any kind of decision.”

If the new ordinance were to pass and Smith were to veto it, it would take four votes from the city council to override that veto.

Lynn Irby, community representative for the American Cancer Society and member of the Meridian Clean Indoor Air Coalition, said coalition members are currently working to craft a Clean Indoor Air Act.

“The act that we are looking at would cover all workplaces, everywhere that has employees,” Irby said.

She said the coalition’s next move is to get a copy of the act to the mayor and the city council. She said, based on what other cities in the state are doing, the mayor would most likely designate someone to enforce the ordinance.

She said citizens could file a complaint if they see someone smoking in a public place and whomever is leasing the property would ticketed and fined $50 for the first offense and $100 for a second offense.

Meridian City Councilman George Thomas, who represents Ward 1, said he is not a smoker and doesn’t like to be around smoke, but he worries that the ordinance would infringe on business owners’ rights.

“It is possible that they could craft an ordinance that I would be in favor of,” Thomas said. “But if we can’t enforce it, then there is no point in having it.”

Thomas voted against the smoking ban that passed in 2004. He said he believes that any restaurant owner who wants to ban or allow smoking should have the authority to do so.

Councilwoman Mary Perry, who represents Ward 2, voted for the original ordinance and plans to do so again. But she would like to see bars excluded from the ban.

“I’m for the smoking ban but bars should be free to do what they like,” Perry said.

If the clean air act is successful, local bar owner Jo Jo Harrison said he would consider taking his business outside the city limits.

Harrison, who owns The Shed House on Eighth Street and the Echo Lounge on C Street, said a clean air act would hurt his businesses.

“It will kill all the bars in town, and I think some of them will go to the county,” Harrison said. “A lot of people who don’t smoke will have a cigarette if they have a few beers.”

Harrison said he could understand banning smoking in restaurants and other buildings, but bars should be held to a different standard.

GREAT AMERICAN SMOKEOUT

Nov. 16 is the 30th annual Great American Smokeout. If you smoke, the American Cancer Society can help you kick the habit, and there are many ways for you to double your odds of succeeding. It starts with planning your attempt to quit. Why not give up cigarettes for the day?

Maybe forever?

Source: www.cancer.org

CLEAN INDOOR AIR ACT

The Meridian City Council is expected to vote on a motion to ban smoking in public buildings at its Nov. 21 meeting. If passed, the

ordinance would prohibit smoking in all workplaces, including restaurants and bars. The city council will meet at 5 p.m. in the council chambers at the Meridian Police Department, 2415 Sixth St. For more information, call the council clerk’s office at (601) 485-1959.