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Even an occasional smoker like me is looking forward to Jan. 1, when Oregon finally joins the modern world in banning smoking from bars and restaurants. No more choking on fumes while you scarf down your tater tots. No more fumigating your clothes when you get home.
Welcome to the 21st century. Nine years late.
The reason Oregon became the last state on the West Coast to crawl out of its smoke-filled Cro-Magnon cave is buried in the history of the 2007 Legislature. Depending who you ask, the Leg was either being incredibly pragmatic or unbelievably craven in putting off implementation of the new law for a year and a half, until midnight on Jan. 1 2009.
Now Multnomah County is announcing you can start your smoke-free New Year three hours early, with salsa dancing sans cigs at Aztec Willie's in Northeast Portland. Here's the county news release:
WWeek 2015