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Halperin: Tobacco ban in Seattle parks affirms citizen right to breathe smoke-free air 

The Seattle Parks Board is considering a ban on smoking and the use of other tobacco products in city parks. Guest columnist Abigail Halperin urges the board to adopt the ban, arguing the ban would be good for public health and that people have the right to breathe smoke-free air. . . .

Smoke-free laws have been shown to help people succeed in freeing themselves from this deadly and addictive habit. Conversely, allowing smoking in public places thwarts the efforts of smokers trying to quit and undermines our state programs to prevent youth from starting to smoke.

Enacting an inclusive and unambiguous smoking ban in our parks will save lives and money and improve quality of life for all. Failing to act, or creating an ineffective rule, would be a victory only for the tobacco companies, who have successfully overturned or delayed passage of similar public-health measures in our state before. Let's not let this happen again.

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