A new campaign is underway to promote Madison's upcoming smoking ban.
Mayor Dave Cieslewicz was on hand for the kick-off at the Nitty Gritty Restaurant and Bar in downtown Madison on Monday.
The campaign is working to encourage people the ordinance is good news for both bar patrons and employees. And the mayor says, "Folks who enjoy going out for a drink or a fish fry will breathe easier, and the many people who work in the many restaurants and bars, will work in a more healthy environment."
Meanwhile, on behalf of those who didn't want the smoking ban, the owner of the Nitty Gritty, Marsh Shapiro, says, "We've fought the battle, and we lost the battle in the city council and now the law has been implemented."
The mayor's office notes more than 100 communities and six states have already gone smoke-free and there has been no evidence of negative economic impact on businesses. Madison's smoking ban goes into effect July 1.
