ATLANTIC CITY — Despite resounding opposition from casino employees and anti-smoking activists, City Council breathed life into an amended ordinance Wednesday night that would allow smoking on one-fourth of casino gaming floors.
Under the new ordinance, instead of a full-fledged smoking ban, which originally was slated for its final vote, a compromise would allow casinos to offer enclosed and separately ventilated smoking sections on 25 percent of their gaming floors.
“There should be some understanding that this is a $5.2 billion business,” Councilman John Schultz said shortly before the meeting began. “We need to preserve that and protect the employees at the same time.”
When asked how the plan would be enacted by the casinos, Schultz said: “That's the casinos' problem, not ours.”
However, Councilman Dennis Mason, who sponsored the compromise measure after private and lengthy negotiations with the Casino Association of New Jersey, told the crowd of more than 200 that the smoking-section employees would be volunteers.
Under the new ordinance, instead of a full-fledged smoking ban, which originally was slated for its final vote, a compromise would allow casinos to offer enclosed and separately ventilated smoking sections on 25 percent of their gaming floors.
“There should be some understanding that this is a $5.2 billion business,” Councilman John Schultz said shortly before the meeting began. “We need to preserve that and protect the employees at the same time.”
When asked how the plan would be enacted by the casinos, Schultz said: “That's the casinos' problem, not ours.”
However, Councilman Dennis Mason, who sponsored the compromise measure after private and lengthy negotiations with the Casino Association of New Jersey, told the crowd of more than 200 that the smoking-section employees would be volunteers.
