Smoking in bars could become the Big Easy’s biggest sin

NEW ORLEANS, La. – The French Quarter is synonymous with partying, with drinking in the street and exposing certain body parts, with listening to great music in a dive bar — a beer in one hand and a cigarette in another.

But a proposed city ordinance could eliminate one of those things, and it’s not showing your, well …

The French Quarter, that great American den of iniquity, could go smokeless. Same goes for other tobacco products and e-cigarettes.

Fines could range from $100 for the first offense and as high as $500 for subsequent offenses.

City Councilmember LaToya Cantrell is pushing the idea. Louisiana Watchdog tried to ask Cantrell about her proposed ordinance and whether it served the best interests of New Orleans and its many visitors.

Cantrell’s spokesman, David Winkler-Schmit, said it was his job to get our questions in advance, and we provided a few.

Cantrell’s plan comes amid rising tension between the police and Mayor Mitch Landrieu.

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