LOS ANGELES : Restaurateurs Urge 2-Year Delay in Smoking Ban

The owners of some of Los Angeles’ oldest restaurants urged the City Council on Tuesday to put off a proposed ban on smoking for at least two years.

Citing a decline in business during the recession, the owners said at a news conference that the ban proposed by Councilman Marvin Braude for health reasons would be catastrophic for their businesses. They formed a committee to oppose the ban, which will be considered by the council today. A close vote is expected.

The 11 restaurants joining the committee, which have a combined 700 years of operation in the city, include the Pacific Dining Car, Musso and Frank, El Coyote, El Cholo, Les Freres Taix, Canter’s and Lawry’s.