It’s official. DeKalb is going smoke-free. It won’t affect this semester, but come next school year, smoking students and residents will find themselves out in parking lots to satisfy their addictions.

As with the first reading of the ordinance, the vote was 5-2 with council members Donna Gorski and James Barr voting against a ban.

Smoking will be banned in all restaurants and some bars in six months beginning Sept. 1, 2006.

Class A liquor license-holders are exempt from the ban until Sept. 1, 2007 to allow those businesses a chance to acclimate to the change.

DeKalb Smoke-Free Coalition leader Jim Grossklags was pleased with the outcome, but reserved concern for business owners who are worried the ban will have detrimental effects.

“I intend to try to help in the remarketing of businesses [as smoke-free],” said Grossklags. “I’m concerned the smaller, local places are more likely to be hurt.”

NIU Colleges Against Cancer president Matt DeLance helped coax the council toward the ban by approaching his alderman and was grateful his labor paid off.

“NIU students can now breathe free,” said DeLance. “Now we can focus on a state-wide ban.”

Opposition to the ban was a mere whisper, as only one resident spoke out against the ban.

This ordinance is an attempt to force their views on others — business owners should be able to choose, said NIU political science instructor and long-time DeKalb resident Steve Berg.

Some residents are concerned passing the ban opens the door to more regulation. Berg quoted Alexis de Tocqueville, a philosopher who greatly influenced America’s first leaders: “Despotism will come in a soft form.”

True or not, enforcement of the smoking ban will come on a complaint basis, leading some citizens to wonder what will occur in places dominated by smokers.

Violation of the smoking ban makes any city permit or license holder subject to revocation, said DeKalb City Attorney Norma Guess.

In 90 days smoking will be banned in all public places that are not restaurants or specifically excluded.

Also a consideration, office buildings that still allow smoking are subject to the ban.

Will it be a big change for them? Not if coworkers don’t mind and forgo a formal complaint to the police.

Smoking is also banned for 10 feet from every entrance to any public place.

This includes city sidewalks where doors are in close proximity to each other.

“I have lost some long-time supporters over this issue, but I had to do what I felt was right,” said 3rd Ward Alderman Steve Kapitan. “Ultimately, it was the public health issue for employees that pushed me over the line.”