Six years after the fight truly began, this city can finally bask in the glow of a victory for the people: Philadelphia has banned smoking from restaurants.
On Thursday, Mayor Street announced - at the last possible moment, of course - that he had signed a ban that took City Council months to pass. Despite the last-minute wavering, it was a moment that all Philadelphians should be proud of.
Well, sort of.
Restaurant patrons and employees can now dine out without worrying about inhaling smoke or smelling like cigarettes.
Yet, many bars are exempted, as are sidewalk cafes - Street's major concern with the bill. More important, the bill will have no teeth until the administration begins enforcing it, and Street has made no indication of when that will happen.
After six years of setbacks, the city needs Street to follow through on his pledge.
