The Kansas City Council is to vote today on a ban on smoking in public places, but critics say the ordinance has been watered down so much by those it would have affected that it’s almost worthless. The ordinance bans workplace smoking, except in designated areas that are well-ventilated. Hotels must ban smoking in 75% of their rooms unless they need those rooms for conventions. The ordinance originally would have banned smoking in bars, restaurants and bowling alleys. But those groups complained, so the ban will go into effect for them only after cities containing 85% of the population in the six county metro area adopt similar bans.
