Recently, Mayor Greg Ballard was asked if he supported strengthening a smoke-free workplace law for Indianapolis. He said that he did not think the people of Indianapolis were ready for something stronger. However, just two days before his comments, the IUPUI Survey Research Center released a public opinion poll showing that 70 percent of Indianapolis residents supported a smoke-free workplace law that included bars, membership clubs and bowling alleys.

As a registered Republican who voted for the mayor, I believe all workplaces should be smoke free. According to the poll, a majority of all residents support smoke-free workplaces, including 68 percent of Republicans.

Clearly, Indianapolis is ready. If these were voting results it would be a landslide. It is time to act.

I urge Ballard to support strengthening the Indianapolis law and urge members of the City-County Council to introduce a comprehensive smoke-free workplace ordinance in Indianapolis, so no one else will have to choose between their health and their paycheck. The question isn’t if the people of Indianapolis are ready for 100 percent smoke-free workplaces, but “will the elected officials of Indianapolis stand with its citizens or will they stand with special-interest groups?”

Brent Ells

Indianapolis