In West Town, Not Everyone’s a Smoking Ban Fan

West Town residents say they don’t like the cigarette butts that litter their property and neighborhood streets, nor do they enjoy the added noise from smoking bar patrons.

What’s to blame for these issues? Residents are pointing their fingers at the new statewide smoking ban.

At a Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) meeting on Feb. 20 at the Northwest Settlement House, 1012 N. Noble St., residents and business owners discussed the escalating issue of where bar and nightclub customers are discarding their cigarettes.

Residents like Judith Simon, who has lived in the neighborhood for more than 30 years, complained about cigarette butts littering the sidewalk in front of her residence in the 1400 block of Chicago Avenue. She also said there’s been more noise because large groups of smokers stand outside near her home.

Club and bar owners agreed there’s a problem, adding they have started to implement measures to combat the new issue.

David Lehtman, owner of Relax Lounge, said the bar, located at 1450 W. Chicago Ave., has a receptacle outside the property for patrons to discard their waste. A staff member goes outside throughout the night and cleans up around the perimeter of the club, he said.

The problem began in January after smoking was outlawed in most businesses under the Smoke Free Illinois Ban, which also prohibits smoking in all public places. Smokers have to leave a building and navigate 15 feet away from the entrance in order to smoke.

Simon said patrons move 15 feet away from bars’ front doors but therefore plant themselves in front of other buildings, including her nearby condo building.

Ald. Walter Burnett, Jr. (27th) said his office hasn’t heard complaints about this yet, but he plans to bring up the issue at the next meeting. He said he anticipated such concerns because other cities with smoking bans, such as New York City, faced similar issues.

The only way to handle it now is to make sure the law is enforced, Burnett said. He will encourage establishments to clean up around their locale as well. Otherwise, they could be faced with tickets from the Department of Streets and Sanitation, he said.

“Instead of looking just for paper now, we’ll have to look for cigarette butts,” he said.

Opponents of the ban like the Illinois Licensed Beverage Associate, a liquor retailer trade group, were concerned about just such consequences, said Daniel Clausner, executive director.

He said members of the group have complained about the additional waste they have to clean outside of their establishments. Although they disagree with the ban, the ILBA is recommending that members follow the law and suggesting they develop outside patios for their guests, if possible.

“Unfortunately, many places do not have the space to add or modify an outdoor smoking area,” Clausner said.

Police officer Eric Moreno said this smoking problem is permeating throughout the city and residents should be patient.

“As regular civilians you should give a little leeway to these businesses because obviously it just started so it’s not going to be a problem that is going to cease tomorrow,” Moreno said.