Mayor Frank Quintero also voted against the change, which tweaked the council's decision last week to allow smoking in 50% of outdoor dining areas larger than 5,000 square feet. All other dining areas had 25% limits, a threshold approved nearly four years ago.
But restaurant owners — many who offer hookah smoking — complained that there is a greater demand than what was allowed under the restrictions.
Plus, only a handful of city businesses have outdoor dining areas larger than 5,000 square feet. Community Development Director Hassan Haghani said more businesses have outdoor dining areas larger than 2,000 square feet, but many will be in the category of being capped at 25%.
“We're not trying to legislate morality,” said Councilman Ara Najarian, who pushed the change. “What we're trying to do is make sure that there is sufficient distance between smokers and nonsmokers.”
But Weaver said Najarian was sneaking in the adjustment when anti-smoking advocates didn't have a chance to refute it.
“You're blindsiding them,” he said, later challenging Najarian and Friedman — who are both running for reelection in April — to explain on the campaign trail why they made it easier to smoke.
Friedman said she can't tolerate smoking, but didn't want to prevent others who were far enough away from people like her from lighting up.
“The idea here of this ordinance is that it's not social engineering,” she said.
Last week, several speakers railed against the dangers of smoking and hookah lounges, which will benefit greatly from the change.
