NYC Smoking Ban: City Council Votes To Ban Smoking In Parks, Beaches And Times Square

[demmiblue]

NEW YORK — New York City's parks, beaches and even Times Square will be off-limits to smokers under one of the nation's toughest anti-cigarette laws passed Wednesday by the City Council.

"This summer, New Yorkers who go to our parks and beaches for some fresh air and fun will be able to breathe even cleaner air and sit on a beach not littered with cigarette butts," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said after the 36-12 vote.

The smoking ban will cover 1,700 parks and 14 miles of public beaches plus boardwalks, marinas and pedestrian plazas like the one in the heart of Times Square. The ban goes into effect 90 days after Bloomberg signs the bill; the mayor has 20 days to do it.

States and cities from Maine to California have banned smoking in public parks and beaches, but New York is pursuing one of the widest-reaching urban bans. Smoking is also prohibited in Los Angeles city parks and in Chicago parks with playgrounds.


More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/02/nyc-smokers-beware-city-c_n_817489.html

[Nye Bevan]

1. Excellent.

I hate being downwind from a smoker at the beach. Why should I be forced to inhale the disgusting byproduct of their habit? I enjoy a beer on occasion but I don't ruin everyone else's enjoyment of the beach by urinating there.

[hlthe2b]

2. Wow...

I'm forever grateful to have gotten smoking out of restaurants, workplaces, and many comedy clubs/bars, and the like. Part of my professional career was spent advocating for that and I firmly believe those steps were critically necessary.

I can honestly say, though, I never expected it to be extended this far and quite frankly, am not sure how I feel about this effort. I am going to have to mull this over a bit...:shrug: