We're so thankful to have someone like Mayor Barry Groveman to look after our health and protect our children from the evils of second hand smoke. How we lived all these years in great health is a mystery. But now we have our own personal Nanny/Mayor, all is well in Pleasantville....ahhh...Calabasas..According to Hiz Honor "In passing the ordinance, the city seeks to protect children from exposure to smoking and tobacco, to reduce the potential for children to associate smoking and tobacco with a healthy lifestyle, to protect the public from smoking and tobacco-related litter and pollution, and to affirm and promote the family-friendly atmosphere of the city's public places." We are so glad the city has decided how to protect our kids, because Big Brother knows best.
1 comment:
While I am actually a supporter of indoor smoking bans in workplaces because I view secondhand smoke as a health hazard to workers, I think this law is going way too far. It bans smoking in every street, sidewalk, and parking lot, places where nonsmokers can easily avoid everything but transient exposure if they so desire. There is simply no scientific evidence that secondhand smoke is a significant public health problem in places like these.
Also, the ordinance is hypocritical beyond belief. Although the City Council apparently desires to protect all kids in the city from even seeing smokers, it is not that important that they want to risk losing profits from shopping malls, which are all exempt from the law (they are allowed to have outdoor smoking areas). Now, all the kids who congregate at the Calabasas Commons will be exposed to smokers congregating together, which will actually create more exposure to smokers than before.
The law also is an enforcement nightmare. It makes smoking a crime, not a civil offense, and allows any nonsmoker to file a lawsuit against any smoker for smoking outdoors within 20 feet of them. I'm sure the courts in Calabasas have better things to be doing.
I've summarized by concerns about this law here and here.
If you're going to have nannies, at least you should have non-hypocritical ones.
Post a Comment