Press-Telegram: Parks and Rec Commission votes to ban smoking in Long Beach parks
TweetAction: Parks and Rec Commission votes to ban smoking in Long Beach parks – Press-Telegram
My take: I think we did the right thing yesterday in pushing this issue forward. I know as a parent this is the right move to be making for our kids, and although I struggle with it from a “hey, what about my rights?” standpoint, it’s important that if Recreation = Health, then we should be taking these kinds of steps.
It will be interesting to follow how our City Council decides to move forward with this new recommendation, as well as to follow the upcoming debates regarding a similar proposal in New York City. I don’t think the two are at all related, and, frankly, would be quite surprised if the New York ban goes into effect.
But for Long Beach – where we continue to pride ourselves on being sustainable and bike-friendly – I think this is another positive step.
OK, I’ll be the first to comment…as a smoker and an athlete, I am not a fan of the “no smoking” campaign. But then again, as a smoker, I am not a fan of smoking. And as an athlete (who can still run a 7.5 minute mile) my lungs are not fans of smoking either. It should remain my right to smoke in public, especially in open air atmospheres (don’t let us turn into Calabasas). I consider it a public service actually. Think of the millions of people that would be added to the unemployment lines if we were all forced to quit smoking. I’d hate to see more people forced out of a job.
Kat said: “as a smoker and an athlete, I am not a fan of the “no smoking” campaign”, which makes no sense. Kat is entitled to smoke and to his opinion , but there is irrefutable evidence that second-hand smoke is harmful. So I have a right to not be subjected to any, at all, period. I also am allergic to smoke. I notice smokers and their smoke at great distances. I don’t have a solution for Kat, but maybe quit smoking for you own health. I did.