Editorial | Uncertainty, again

The Philadelphia smoking ban, not even a month old, is in danger.

Just when we thought city politicians had finally - after six years - united to make Philadelphia bars and restaurants smoke free, City Council is considering a new bill that would delay the ban.

Making matters worse, the ban had appeared to pass its last - and toughest - hurdle: the mayor's office. After months of mixed signals, John Street had finally signed the original ban last month. And to the surprise of many, he suddenly announced on Sept. 25 that enforcement was to begin immediately.

We cheered the announcement.

Council's new bill, however, will kill the ban (temporarily, at least) before it even has time to get off the ground.

Besides pushing enforcement back until Jan. 7, the new bill allows establishments that earn less than 20 percent of their revenue from food to be exempt from the ban (up from 10 percent in the current version). Under the new bill, the exemptions become permanent - whereas they currently expire in 2008.

Why, after so much in-fighting and hard work, does Council want to cut the legs out of its own law?

It may have caught most people off guard when Street announced the ban's immediate enforcement. But honestly, how long does it take to put up a few "no smoking" signs and answer "no" when patrons ask if smoking is allowed?

Luckily, while the bill passed the public-health committee 4-1, the bill does not appear to have enough votes to pass a full session of Council and become law. We urge Council - and especially majority leader Jannie Blackwell, who represents Penn's district - to vote against weakening the ban. Council should also work to settle the issue quickly, to show wary restaurant and bar owners that the issue is settled, once and for all.

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