Tuesday’s vote is the culmination of nearly three years’ work by the city. It first considered such a ban in 2008, but the city did not have the authority to prohibit the otherwise legal activity. It lobbied the General Assembly and gained the authority as part of the law outlawing smoking in bars and other work places.
The council instructed staff to amend its earlier proposal, banning smoked and smokeless tobacco in all city parks and open space. The new ban would continue to allow smoking in Nash Square and Moore Square parks and not ban smokeless tobacco.
A final vote could come as early as Feb. 1.
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Anthony Greco is an associate editor of Carolina Journal.