Sub-Links

November 2009

Smoke Free Pennsylvania is proud to accept the 2009 Good Government Award, presented by the Greater Pittsburgh League of Women Voters (LWV).  Our organization was one of five recipients of this year's award.  Thanks to LWV for recognizing citizen activism and encouraging people to take part in democracy.  Government only works as well as we make it work! 

Pittsburgh LWV website:  http://palwv.org/pittsburgh/

Clean Indoor Air Act - Violations

Please report suspected violations using the form at the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) website:  www.health.state.pa.us 

Or call 1-877-835-9535 and follow the prompts to report violations. 

Complaints have been filed with PA DOH for the following restaurants and bars:

● Carriage Inn, 1601 Lovedale Rd, Elizabeth

● Crosscreek, 620 Boston Hollow Rd, Elizabeth

● End Zone & Marie's Place, 514 West Main St, Mt Pleasant

● Penn Monroe, 3985 Wm. Penn Hwy., Monroeville

● Talerico's, 2525 Monroeville Blvd., Monroeville

● Mario's & Blue Lou's, Carson St., South Side

● Martini's Restaurant, 1215 Route 885, Jefferson Hills

● Pikes Pub & Grub, Route 232, Southampton (Bucks Co.)

● Turney's Tavern, 827 Pleasant Ave, Springfield Twp. 

● Twin Oaks, Route 48, White Oak

● Ugly Dog Saloon, 2351 Noblestown Rd, Crafton

● Willie's Tavern, Mars

● Zanderz, Plum

Exceptions

Listings

SmokeFree Pennsylvania will continue to maintain this website for the near future, even after the effective date.  New listings will no longer be added (except for new smokefree establishments), since the current website features business owners who respect the health of their employees and customers.  They didn't need a law to do the right thing...

Smoke Free Pennsylvania Act signed into law!

(Front Row: Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, Gov. Ed Rendell, Rep. Michael Gerber.  Back Row: SmokeFree Pennsylvania representatives Bill Godshall, Executive Director and Greg Hartley, Assistant Director)

Although it's not perfect, it is progress.  The law ensures a safe workplace for over 95% of employees in our commonwealth, as well as smokefree air in most public places.  Because it does not preempt (supersede) the stronger Philadelphia ordinance, it is a step forward.  The General Assembly plans to consider legislation to repeal preemption for Allegheny County and Scranton.  Thanks to Governor Rendell, Representative Michael Gerber, and especially Senator Stewart Greenleaf for leading the fight for clean indoor air.  And many thanks to everyone who called and wrote to legislators - you helped make it happen! 

Senator Greenleaf's remarks at the bill signing ceremony (First item in the "News" section, 2nd video):  http://www.senatorgreenleaf.com/

Post-Gazette articles:  http://post-gazette.com/pg/08166/889924-85.stm

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08163/888929-85.stm

Search Feature for this site - Many thanks to Jake Krohn of Pittsburgh, who created a handy search feature for this site.  To show respect for those establishments who respect their employees and customers, we will continue to list restaurants who have gone smokefree before June 13 (and smokefree establishments that open afterward). 

Duke's Upper Deck Cafe in Homestead is proud of its clean air environment!

Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund - ad campaign: http://tobaccofreeaction.org/pa2008/

Prominent South Side bar loves their smokefree policy: "Just wanted to say thanks for listing us on your smoke free web site.  It was a hard decision back in May to go smoke free, but it turned out to be a very good decision.  Business is a good as ever and the place feels & smells much cleaner.  I have had some complaints but the compliments outnumber the complaints 50-to-1 if not more. Thanks very much." - Glenn Benigni, Fat Head's Saloon  www.fatheads.com

Diners use this website!  SmokeFree Pennsylvania has received an increasing feedback about the use of our site; here are some comments from regular users:  "My girlfriend and I use it to find the smoke free restaurants and bars in Pittsburgh.  We recently supported Red Robin, Penn Brewery, Silk Elephant, Piper’s Pub, and Baddo’s just to name a few.  ...we even chose our Valentine’s Day restaurant from the list:  Franco’s Trattoria."  

"Your site is great and my wife and I will be using it to decide where we go to dinner." - Jeff Conover

Eat 'N Park Restaurants are now smokefree! http://kdka.com/topstories/local_story_150185515.html     Post-Gazette article on restaurants staying smokefree:  http://post-gazette.com/pg/07151/790208-34.stm

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette editorial supports smokefree law: http://post-gazette.com/pg/07144/788568-192.stm

Poll finds that PA residents support a smokefree law:  http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07039/760401-85.stm

"Every public place in this country ought to be smoke-free immediately.  You're endangering the lives of everyone around you." - Lance Armstrong, cancer survivor and 7-time Tour de France champion

PA Representative Peter Daley (D-Washington/Fayette) plans to introduce a bill that would prohibit smoking in vehicles when children in car seats are present.  http://www.pahouse.com/PR/049011807.asp

Post-Gazette op-ed by SmokeFree Pennsylvania assistant director, Greg Hartley:  http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07002/750275-109.stm

Tribune-Review article, smokefree policy is good for bar and restaurant business: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribunereview/s_486613.html

Articles - Court ruling on Allegheny County smokefree ordinance:  http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06357/748507-85.stm   http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/today/s_485550.html

Post-Gazette editorial on Judge Della Vecchia's ruling:  http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06361/749119-192.stm

"The debate is over. The science is clear. Secondhand smoke is not a mere annoyance but a serious health hazard." - Richard H. Carmona, 17th U.S. Surgeon General (2002-2006)

Surgeon General's report on secondhand smoke:

http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/secondhandsmoke/factsheets/factsheet4.html

CNN article:  http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/06/27/involuntary.smoking.ap/index.html

Editorials in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News express support for smokefree workplaces:

Post-Gazette:   http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06211/709464-192.stm  

                    http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06263/723250-192.stm

                    http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06180/701947-192.stm

                    http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06171/699559-192.stm  (supports the SmokeFree PA petition to Allegheny County Council)

                    http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06159/696559-192.stm

                    http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06092/678616-192.stm

                    http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06015/637796.stm  

                    http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06058/661736.stm

Inquirer          http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/editorial/14839128.htm

                    http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/editorial/13614083.htm

Daily News    http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/news/opinion/13650582.htm

USA Today - Letter to the Editor from Greg Hartley of SmokeFree Pennsylvania

  http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2006-03-13-letters-other_x.htm

Pennsylvanians Support Smokefree Workplaces:  As part of the 2005 Penn State Poll, conducted by the Center for Survey Research at Penn State in Harrisburg, residents of our commonwealth were asked the following question:

    “Should all employees in Pennsylvania have the right to a smokefree workplace?”

    Result: Of the 859 residents surveyed, 83.7% answered “Yes.”  This result demonstrates overwhelming support for     clean indoor air rights in Pennsylvania.

Take Action in PA - Senator Stewart Greenleaf (R-Montgomery) has introduced comprehensive statewide smokefree workplace legislation (SB 246).  Please contact your state senators and ask them to support this bill. 

 Contact info for Pennsylvania legislators:    http://www.legis.state.pa.us/index.cfm

"The dire predictions of the drinks trade have proved false, but cigarette sales have fallen and public health is improving as a result. This experience shows that bold political moves can be successful and popular."  (emphasis added) - Deborah Arnott, Action on Smoking & Health director (Britain), commenting on the Irish experience with smokefree workplaces (including restaurants and pubs), a popular law which needs little enforcement.

"Welcome to Norway. The only thing we smoke here is salmon." - Norwegian government poster to announce the new smokefree workplace law, which includes restaurants and bars.

All workplaces in the following countries, including restaurants and pubs, are now smokefree:  Bhutan, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Scotland, Sweden and Uganda.  Clean indoor air comes to England in mid-2007.       

"Your right to smoke stops at my lungs."  - John Auerbach, Boston Health Commissioner

"Every employer in Britain should know by now that secondhand smoke is dangerous to the health of their employees. There is no moral excuse - and we believe no legal defence - for continuing to expose employees to such an unnecessary health and safety risk." - Deborah Arnott, Director of ASH (Action on Smoking & Health) London

Read the SmokeFree Pennsylvania op-ed published in the April 3, 2004 edition of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.  

Pittsburgh Business Times editorial supports smokefree restaurants. Tribune-Review articles: 1) Smokefree restaurants & bars and 2) Law limits local smoking bans.