Posted on 11/15/2006 4:27:09 PM PST by frankiep
Belmont to be first U.S. city to ban all smoking By Dana Yates, Daily Journal Staff
Belmont is set to make history by becoming the first city in the nation to ban smoking on its streets and almost everywhere else. The Belmont City Council voted unanimously last night to pursue a strict law that will prohibit smoking anywhere in the city except for single-family detached residences. Smoking on the street, in a park and even in one’s car will become illegal and police would have the option of handing out tickets if they catch someone.
The actual language of the law still needs to be drafted and will likely come back to the council either in December or early next year.
“We have a tremendous opportunity here. We need to pass as stringent a law as we can, I would like to make it illegal,” said Councilman Dave Warden. “What if every city did this, image how many lives would be saved? If we can do one little thing here at this level it will matter.”
Armed with growing evidence that second-hand smoke causes negative health effects, the council chose to pursue the strictest law possible and deal with any legal challenges later. Last month, the council said it wanted to pursue a law similar to ones passed in Dublin and the Southern California city of Calabasas. It took up the cause after a citizen at a senior living facility requested smoke be declared a public nuisance, allowing him to sue neighbors who smoke.
The council was concerned about people smoking in multi-unit residences.
“I would just like to say ‘no smoking’ and see what happens and if they do smoke, [someone] has the right to have the police come and give them a ticket,” said Councilwoman Coralin Feierbach.
The council’s decision garnered applause from about 15 people who showed up in support of the ordinance. One woman stood up and blew kisses to the council, another pumped his fist with satisfaction.
“I’m astounded. I admire their courage and unanimous support,” said Serena Chen, policy director of the American Lung Association of California.
Chen has worked in this area since 1991 and helped many cities and counties pass no smoking policies, but not one has been willing to draft a complete ban.
“I feel like the revolution is taking place and I am trying to catch up,” Chen told the council.
The decision puts Belmont on the forefront of smoking policy and it is already attracting attention from other states.
“You have the ability to do something a little more extraordinary than Dublin or Calabasas. I see what they’ve done as five or six on the Richter Scale. What the citizens of Belmont, and of America, need is five brave people to do something that’s a seven or eight on the Richter Scale,” said Philip Henry Jarosz of the Condominium Council of Maui.
“The whole state of Hawaii is watching” he said.
Councilman Warren Lieberman said he was concerned the city will pass a law it cannot enforce because residents will still smoke unless police are specifically called to a situation. Police cannot go out and enforce smoking rules, he said.
“It makes us hypocrites by saying you know you can break the law if no one is watching,” Lieberman said.
However, both Feierbach and Warden argued it is the same as jaywalking, having a barking dog or going 10 miles over the speed limit. All are illegal, but seldom enforced.
“You can’t walk down the street with a beer, but you can have a cigarette,” Warden said. “You shouldn’t be allowed to do that. I just think it shouldn’t be allowed anywhere except in someone’s house. If you want to do that, that’s fine.”
Motorhomes would probably fall under that category, but on the other hand a motorhome could also be considered a detached private residence.
What's a nanny-statist to do????
And more to the point Randall, now that the libs
are back in power, it's almost as if they have
been in a "mothball-timewarp" for the last several
years.
Western civilization is in danger and they are
concerned first with smoking and gay issues....JJ61
I call bullshi-ite!
Show me ONE death certificate where "secondhand smoke" is cited. Other than potentially aggravating SOME allergies, SHS is just an annoyance.
Joe, She, do either of you have a link to that WHO study that showed SHS actually caused a reduction in lung disease in later life for youngsters? I've been looking through many of our old Smoker's Lounge" threads, and still can't find it. I've found a few dead links, mind you.
Thanks either way.
No smoking but queers spread AIDS, other venereal diseases, and the rest of the queer-related medical conditions we all are forced to pay for. Go figure. And NO, I don't smoke.
What part of Red China is Belmont?
But to pass such an ordinance in an existing town is absurd. The tyranny of the majority writ large.
>>What's a nanny-statist to do????
Smoke in a car with smoked windows?
LOL!
In spite of gains that anti-smoking agendas have had, I can't see this draconian measure passing final judicial muster, because of the outdoor-public, within-your-own-car and detached-home-only-residence restrictions - not that many lesser restrictions should also not pass, in my view. But, I think these three will take the idea too far for a majority of jurists.
>>Show me ONE death certificate where "secondhand smoke" is cited.
The death of Liberty.
Is it what people want?......or could it merely be what we get "stuck" with, because of the kind of people who run for office?
Maybe there could be some other way to convince, or maybe "draft" people to fill public offices.
I think that if it is someone's long time desire to hold a particular office, he/she is probably not the person for the job.
“I’m astounded. I admire their courage and unanimous support,” said Serena Chen, policy director of the American Lung Association of California."
Another reason not to give to the American Lung Association
My thought exactly. So...does this mean we can bring back the property-ownership requirement for voting?
"Just wait til they say Food is the most important thing in the world and should be given out for free. That will be the GO signal"
They'll only want your trans fat-free food. I don't have any of that , so I'll be safe
They want to ban smoking in public. I think gay sex is already illegal in public.
Our State (MN.) went total rat this election and there will be a statewide ban on smoking and our RINO RINO RINO Governor will sign it.
Since WHEN did both Houses and the President have control over what morons on the local level do vis-a-vis smoking bans?
This city Council is filled with GOPERS, is it? Wanna bet?
And where is the ACLU in this matter of defending
those who soon will be left smokeless??!!
I guess that depends on how many men in NAMBLA
smoke....JJ61
Hope that helps.
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