Possible Smoking Ban Expansion in NYC

[Guest lance25]

NEW YORK (CBS 2) – From the inside-out, there may be a new “no-go” when it comes to smoking.

 

Mayor Bloomberg’s anti-smoking crusade could be coming to a city park or public beach near you, a plan plenty of people say crosses the line, reports CBS 2′s Dave Carlin.

 

CBS 2 has learned that Mayor Bloomberg is looking at a possible smoking ban for all city parks and public beaches.

 

“Now you’re gonna stop me from smoking in the park? Where am I gonna smoke at?” West Side resident Anthony Cintron said.

 

“What’s next? It will be something else in six months,” said another New Yorker.

 

The new measure would widen the current smoking ban – in bars, subways, buildings, playgrounds and other public places – to include some 29,000 acres of park land and 14 miles of beaches.

 

“Non-smokers can smell smoke from miles and miles away, so ban it!” Cynthia Keller-Bee, of the Upper East Side, said.

 

New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley proposed the park and beach ban almost a full year ago, and a statement from the mayor’s office Saturday night indicates the issue could soon come off the backburner.

 

“The mayor is seriously considering it. A final decision has not yet been make,” the statement said.

 

City Councilman Vincent Ignizio said his vote would likely be “no.”

 

“My concern is this overreach on behalf of city government,” he said.

 

Ignizio said this is another in a string of what he calls “nanny state” moves by a lame duck mayor.

 

In 2002, smoking in bars and restaurants was banned. Then came a battle against trans fats, requirements that restaurants post calorie counts on menus, and recently the campaign to cut back on salt.

 

While some smokers in Central Park called Mayor Bloomberg a bully on the issue, others praised him as a pioneering public health advocate.

 

“He is thinking positively. If people don’t want to do it on their own, the mayor takes the lead a little bit,” Upper West Side resident Michelle Fabre said.

 

In the end, no matter what the mayor wants, it is up to the city council to ignite the ban – or to snuff it out.

 

A similar ban of smoking on the beach for the state of California was vetoed this past May by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

 

 

Now this is getting absolutely ridiculous. Instead of making New York City more and more like a nanny state, Bloomberg needs to start doing things that help the city, not hurt it. What happened to those mass transit initiatives he promised during his campaign for mayor for life?

[St Louis Car 09]

Can you say prohibition.Im a non-smoker and even I think its a bit absurd.If you cant smoke inside,where can you smoke? Is bloomberg mayor or health comissioner? Somebody decide for this man.

[ColumbiaDeath]

What about the kids smoking reefer in the park? Where else are they supposed to go??

[Shortline Bus]

Can you say prohibition.Im a non-smoker and even I think its a bit absurd.If you cant smoke inside,where can you smoke? Is bloomberg mayor or health comissioner? Somebody decide for this man.

 

Basically Mayor Mike is the health boss and NYC boss all rolled into one. As someone who recently lost my Dad partially due to smoking and don't smoke myself this is a bit much. As long as the smoker does not smoke directly in someone face, it's their right. Well said St Louie.:tup:

[Nova RTS 9147]

Now this is getting absolutely ridiculous. Instead of making New York City more and more like a nanny state, Bloomberg needs to start doing things that help the city, not hurt it. What happened to those mass transit initiatives he promised during his campaign for mayor for life?

 

He is institution those mass transit initiatives he promised. The laid off conductors and station agents can attest to that.

[East New York]

This is a bit too much. Although I see it as slightly helpful because there are many rude people who will light up right next to you and not care which way the wind blows the smoke. I personally am a smoker, but try not to smoke around lots of people, which can be very hard at times in NYC. But I cannot stand the smell of cig smoke! And I hate smelling someone else's! Weird huh???

[Dan05979]

Didn't he want to ban smoking in cars a few years ago? I might be wrong.

I can understand not smoking in a public place like an office but this guy is getting out of control with turning the city into 1 huge tropical island.

 

1 thing I cannot understand and HATE is when I see people driving and smoking with kids in the car, especially babies.

[Railfaner100]

I think in my opinion that it is a good idea for Mayor Bloomberg to ban smoking, because it can save many people's lives from dying from cancer and many other diseases.

[MTARegional Bus]

I think in my opinion that it is a good idea for Mayor Bloomberg to ban smoking, because it can save many people's lives from dying from cancer and many other diseases.

 

That's there problem,if they want to smoke,let them smoke and get cancer cause they know the risk.The only thing we have is tell them the dangers of smoking,

 

 

Smoking is no worse then every car that's producing C.O.2 into the atmosphere in this city .

[East New York]

I think in my opinion that it is a good idea for Mayor Bloomberg to ban smoking, because it can save many people's lives from dying from cancer and many other diseases.

 

That's not going to stop people from smoking! Truthfully, I don't know anyone who smokes that doesn't want to quit.

[7LineFan]

That's there problem,if they want to smoke,let them smoke and get cancer cause they know the risk.

 

And also, governments get tax money from every box of cigarettes sold...

[B35 via Church]

“Non-smokers can smell smoke from miles and miles away, so ban it!” Cynthia Keller-Bee, of the Upper East Side, said.

Wu-Tang does not approve of that message !

 

Non-smokers can smell snobs like this one from miles & miles away....

 

 

anyway, I never smoked a day in my life, and I also think this is rather preposterous...

 

ah what the hell...

let's ban sex, drugs, and rock & roll while we're at it....

 

I swear this city's goin to pot.

[Nova RTS 9147]

“Non-smokers can smell smoke from miles and miles away, so ban it!” Cynthia Keller-Bee, of the Upper East Side, said.

 

No you cant. Get over yourself!

 

I swear this city's goin to pot.

 

I would not have a problem with that one bit.

[B35 via Church]

I would not have a problem with that one bit.

 

 

You know I'm a fan of wordplay....

as a lyricist, I have to be.

[East New York]

 

 

You know I'm a fan of wordplay....

as a lyricist, I have to be.

 

Wow! You just took me back to my first year of college!(2002) "Imma finish you before I finish the Dutch!" Those were the days! No further comments.......

[metsfan]

Good.

 

Also, can you take care of the whole, no smoking indoors so every smoker stands right next to the door so you have to walk through the cloud of death to enter/exit issue, thanks! :tup:

 

- A

[SubwayGuy]

Now this is getting absolutely ridiculous. Instead of making New York City more and more like a nanny state, Bloomberg needs to start doing things that help the city, not hurt it. What happened to those mass transit initiatives he promised during his campaign for mayor for life?

 

He's a liar, like 95% of all businessmen.

[INDman]

Why ban smoking? I think they gov. should encourage more people to smoke. There would be alot of income from the taxes and it would cut down on the exsess population.

[Urbanfortitude]

He's a liar, like 95% of all businessmen.

 

Extending on this, I wish it were even remotely possible to push up an ordinary citizen for mayor/governor.

[SubwayGuy]

Why ban smoking? I think they gov. should encourage more people to smoke. There would be alot of income from the taxes and it would cut down on the exsess population.

 

On that note make all the smokers move to Staten Island, and raise taxes on cigarettes.

 

What? The smell of cigarette smoke coming from that island couldn't be worse than the smell that already comes from there?

 

That way the Jersey shore can be a marketing tool for the Staten Island lifestyle which includes taxed smokers subsidizing the rest of us...genius...

[Aqueduct]

Bloomberg is a piece of shit, it is nice how he villanizes smokers yet the revenue from cigarette taxes help keep NYC afloat.