I have been encouraged the past few weeks by The Star’s support of smoke-free air in Indianapolis. I hope the well-though-out editorials and articles on Proposal 371 will help it pass sooner rather than later.

Though in response to Francesca Jarosz’s article, (“Why Indy’s behind the pack,” Nov. 1), I would like to urge the City-County Council to not use it as an excuse to not pass Proposal 371. Just because we have a history of following the leader does not mean that we cannot lead on this issue. Because we know that secondhand smoke is harmful to workers’ health and that smoke-free air laws do not hurt the economy, we should break from our individualistic past and protect all workers from cigarette smoke by passing Proposal 371.

Derek Sumpter

Indianapolis