UALR Presents Report on Smoke-Free Business Environments

Little Rock, AR (11 August 2005) Little Rock Mayor Jim Dailey today announced members of a task force he has charged with examining tobacco use in the workplace. In his 2005 State of the City Address, the Mayor called for this task force to be established and appointed City Director Genevieve Stewart to be a liaison between the City Board and the task force.

Joining Director Stewart on the task force are:

? Dr. David Bourne
? Herb Broadway, La’Changes Bar
? Eric Estes, Attorney General’s Public Protection Division
? Jay Hamric, Outback Steakhouse
? Tim Heiple, Heiple & Wiedower Architects
? Lee Johnson, Jay’s Place
? Mary Beth Ringold, Cajun’s Wharf & Capers
? Kathy Webb, Lilly’s Dim Sum

“I look forward to the work of this task force,” said Mayor Dailey. “I expect we will have a good exchange of ideas as we move forward with this public dialogue,” he continued.

City Director Genevieve Stewart commented, “The aim of this taskforce is good health – good public health, but also good economic health.”

Dr. Ashvin P. Vibhakar, director of the UALR Institute for Economic Advancement, presented a “Smoke-Free Business Environments” assessment. This found that the economic impact of a smoking ban is dependent on the scope and timing of the ordinance. The study looked at tax collection patterns in areas with a ban, effects of smoking bans in bars, and the stances of advocates and critics of smoking bans.

-30-