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EDITORIAL: The rights and the wrongs of smoking in public 

While living in the San Fernando Valley in early 2006, I remember thinking how ludicrous it was that the Calabasas City Council had adopted an ordinance that basically eliminated the ability for anyone to smoke in public. The secondhand smoke control ordinance specified that smoking was prohibited in all public places where other persons could be exposed to secondhand smoke, including indoor and outdoor businesses, hotels, parks, apartment common areas, restaurants and bars where people could reasonably be expected to congregate or meet.

At the time, as a half-a-pack-a-day smoker, I felt persecuted and loathed. . . .

After I left the Valley, I moved up north and found myself in a pro-smoking environment. It was widely accepted, if not condoned, as a bridge to meeting new people. But as the butts piled up, I found the habit to be more destructive and bothersome. The initial buzz that everyone gets with the first cigarette wears off as the day progresses. Instead of relaxing and enjoying cigarettes, I was tense and frustrated because my nicotine level wasn't high enough. And as a friend pointed out, it wasn't the nicotine that was making me feel relaxed; it was taking deep breaths throughout the day to deliver more oxygen into my body -- something that was defeated as my lungs sucked up nasty carcinogens.

By December 2007, I decided I'd had enough. . . .

although I am not in favor of the government legislating certain behaviors, the problem is that when you are a smoker, you simply aren't taking into account how you are affecting other people, be it their health, their level of comfort or their children by modeling for them that smoking should be a norm in our society. . . .

because fighting between the smokers and nonsmokers will never cease, cities like Thousand Oaks and Moorpark have decided to follow Calabasas' lead and make it more difficult to expose nonsmokers to the carcinogenic plumes of cigarettes through their own anti-smoking ordinances. . . .

While not every provision of the new laws seems fair, including forbidding smoking in rental homes, it isn't about the person who is committing the act; it is about everyone else who has to be subjected to it. For this reason alone, Moorpark and Thousand Oaks are headed in the right direction toward putting an end to exposing others to a debilitating habit.

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Moorpark modifies anti-smoking ordinance 

The Moorpark City Council changed its anti-smoking ordinance Wednesday night to allow businesses within the city to apply for a temporary permit to host smoking-related events.

The change will delay final adoption and approval of the city's smoking ordinance until a future council meeting.

The council unanimously voted to make the change after Moorpark Chamber of Commerce CEO and President Patrick Ellis said the original smoking ordinance would hurt restaurants and other businesses in Moorpark if passed.

The original ordinance made it illegal to smoke in public areas, including "within 20 feet of the entrance, exit, or open window of any public building."

Smoking is already prohibited indoors at restaurants, but the ordinance would have also prohibited smoking in all outdoor eating areas as well.

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Smoking bans extended to more parks in Chicago suburbs  

The steady march to rid parks and playgrounds of cigarette butts spread to Zion this summer after a group of students surveyed residents and then pushed the Park District to enact the ban that most supported.

The 752 acres of parkland went smoke-free in mid-June, although the ban ends at the fairways of the two golf courses and carries no penalties.

Park District officials are betting smokers will heed the signs and police themselves.

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MELVINDALE: 'No smoking' signs might be put up at public park 

In an effort to clear the air, "no smoking" signs might be going up in Deluca Field.

Councilwoman Stacey Striz suggested the signage earlier this month in response to people smoking during games at Deluca.

State and county law says that smoking isn't allowed on school property or in public buildings. Deluca is a public park.

Striz said she believes that because children play there, it should also be non-smoking.

"There's always that one person when you say, 'Hey, this is a no-smoking area,' they want to challenge you to the moon," she said.

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Smoking ordinance cheered, criticized  

After shopping at Target, Simi Valley resident Karen McKennan stood in the parking lot of the Moorpark Marketplace shopping center to smoke a cigarette.

“Life has been stressful lately. (Smoking) on occasion helps me relax,” McKennan said Wednesday.

Smoking after she shops has been a regular habit for the 25-year-old, but after Aug. 1 she may have to be more discreet or find a smoking-designated area.

The Moorpark City Council on June 17 initially approved an amendment to an existing smoking ordinance, prohibiting smoking in public places — including sidewalks and athletic fields. Violators can be fined $100 to $500, depending on how many times they are cited within a period of time.

The ordinance still needs final approval from the council. If approved at the council’s next general meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, the ordinance would take effect Aug. 1.

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Ask Us Anything: Is smoking banned in San Clemente city parks? 

Q. Did the city pass a no-smoking ordinance in city parks? If so, what was/were the reason(s) for such. If not, why not? - Dean

A. Since 2004, San Clemente has banned smoking on city beaches and the pier. In 2008, the ban was extended to the San Clemente Coastal Trail and other public trails operated by the city. . . .

The parks commission recommended extending the ban to city parks, but City Council members were divided over that. Parks are wider spaces, some said, and state law al

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Moorpark may ban smoking in public areas 

The smoking ordinance in the city of Moorpark may soon be amended.

On June 17, the Moorpark City Council initially approved an amendment to an existing smoking ordinance, prohibiting smoking in public areas, including parks, sidewalks and athletic fields. Violators

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Most Swedes support ban on outdoor smoking 

A new survey by Synovate that was commissioned by the Swedish Network of Tobacco Prevention reveals that 73 percent of Swedes support a ban on smoking in the outdoor dining sections of restaurants. This would suggest that Swedes are getting tired of second hand smoke, even within the well-ventilated realm of the great outdoors.

The Local newspaper reports that the Hotel and Restaurant Workers Union (HRF) is demanding the government extend its existing 2005 ban on smoking in all licensed premises. The original ban proved very popular with Swedes, leading the Parliament to establish a goal of expanding this notion against exposure to passive smoking in public by 2014.

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No EU can not smoke outdoors!  

EU zealots will this week demand a ban on smoking OUTSIDE pubs and offices.

Brussels chiefs want to outlaw beer garden ciggie areas - and even extend the ban to open air concerts like this weekend's Glastonbury festival.

The European Commission says the current bar on smoking in enclosed public places does not go far enough. It says non-smokers in outdoor areas are still in danger from passive smoking.

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Council approves smoking ban in city parks 

The Atascadero City Council voted 4-0 in favor of prohibiting smoking in all city parks, the Charles Paddock Zoo and public events. Councilman Jerry Clay was absent.

Councilman Tom O'Malley made the motion and Councilman Bob Kelley seconded it, with the assistance of the city attorney since the motion was leading to a city ordinance.

Brady Cherry, city community services director, told the council that, "this item this evening is to consider some smoking restrictions to our parks and recreation areas as well as the Charles Paddock Zoo."

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Smoking ban goes into effect in San Dieguito River Park 

A new no-smoking policy is now in place for the San Dieguito River Park, which stretches from the gateway at the lagoon in Del Mar to the crest of Volcan Mountain.

The Board of Directors of the San Dieguito River Park Joint Powers Authority approved the policy, following the lead of 14 other cities in San Diego County. The authority is a multi-jurisdictional agency formed to plan, create, preserve and enhance the San Dieguito River Valley Regional Open Space Park.

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Malibu to ban public smoking 

The Malibu City Council on Monday voted to adopt an ordinance that would prohibit smoking in public open spaces beginning July 31.

The ordinance, as proposed, would ban smoking within 20 feet of a public event, such as a farmers' market. It would also ban smoking within 20 feet of outdoor dining areas on public or private property, such as hotels and supermarkets.

Businesses with outdoor dining areas would be also required to conspicuously post and maintain "no smoking" signs within the area.

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Smoke-free signs preferred to ordinance  

Select Board members chose Monday to seek "smoke-free zone" signs at several town-owned parks rather than pass an ordinance banning smoking in those areas.

A group of students in the Southwest Vermont Career Development Center's pre-law class, along with the Smoke-Free Community Partners, had been seeking an ordinance "with teeth" to discourage smoking in areas where children congregate. But the board had reservations, and no clear majority to support an ordinance. They chose to seek signs with no force behind them, instead.

"It's not what you were seeking, but it's better than nothing," said Chairwoman Lodie Colvin.

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Hector council postpones smoking ban for city park 

The Hector City Council decided against adopting a smoke-free ordinance for an area of its park at Thursday’s regularly scheduled meeting.

Mayor Martha Owens said several citizens expressed opposition following the council’s May meeting, where representatives from Community Service Inc. made a presentation detailing the benefits of the ordinance.

“We are going to wait a little bit further in time before we adopt it – probably the end of summer,” Owens said. “We’ll wait and give it some more discussion.”

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ESCONDIDO: Activist says Abed shouldn't vote on smoking ban 

With the City Council slated Wednesday to consider a ban on smoking in Escondido parks, a community activist has called on Councilman Sam Abed to remove himself from the debate because Abed owns a gas station that sells cigarettes.

"It's a pretty big conflict of interest for him to sell cigarettes all day and then vote against banning them from parks," said Danny Perez, a longtime community activist in Escondido.

But Abed, a longtime opponent of smoking bans, said Monday that there is no conflict of interest because cigarette sales make up less than 2 percent of the $10,000 in gross revenue his Mobil service station generates on a typical day.

City Attorney Jeff Epp agreed.

"As I understand it, they are a very minor part of his business," Epp said Monday.

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