The City Council can't get enough of smoking issues. After the medical marijuana debate last night, the council's Economic Development and Finance Committee will reignite the discussion about allowing smoking lounges in Long Beach today. Doing so would amend Long Beach's groundbreaking anti-smoking ordinance that outlawed the act in public places back in the early 1990s.
In March, the council instituted a yearlong moratorium on new cigar and hookah lounges so that city staff could refine regulations for the businesses, and city health officials and attorneys say they are expecting to have the new ordinance ready this month. But Councilwoman Tonia Reyes Uranga, the committee's chairwoman and the person who first proposed allowing smoking lounges, is trying to get a jump on things.
The committee meets at 3 p.m. today in City Hall, 333 W. Ocean Blvd.
Paul Eakins reports on Long Beach City Hall, and local and regional
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Karen Robes Meeks came to work for the Press-
Smart post, I just tried a J. Fuego during the weekend....really excellent