PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - The mayor of Providence has vetoed a measure that would ban smoking in parts of downtown.
Mayor Jorge Elorza (HOR’-hay ay-LOR’-sah) issued the veto on Friday. The ordinance would have banned the use of tobacco products in the areas around Kennedy Plaza and Burnside Park.
In a letter to the council, Elorza says that while the ban is ostensibly about smoking, the true target is the homeless community. He says the ordinance would criminalize poverty, be a waste of police resources and be ineffective.
The ban has been pushed by a group of businessmen led by former Mayor Joseph Paolino (pay-oh-LEE’-noh), a major downtown property owner.
The council passed the proposal 8-5, short of the 10 votes needed to override a veto.
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