LONG BEACH : City Council Takes Step Toward Smoking Ban

After backing down two years ago, the Long Beach City Council took a step Tuesday toward banning smoking in restaurants, cafeterias and other enclosed public places.

Councilman Evan Anderson Braude proposed strengthening the city’s current anti-smoking ordinance, which prohibits lighting up in municipal buildings and most workplaces.

The council, consisting entirely of nonsmokers, referred the proposal to its legislative committee for further review. Most of the council members said they wanted more comment on the proposal from business owners. The issue is expected to come back before the City Council within the next several weeks.

The City Council passed an ordinance in 1991 that would have banned smoking in restaurants beginning in 1994. But after about 30,000 Long Beach residents signed a petition opposing the measure, the council repealed the law and enacted a less restrictive version.