For those not hipped to the news, Sunday began the ban on OUTDOOR smoking in NYC public parks and pedestrian areas. The fine is $50 if you are caught lighting up in say Central Park, Coney Island, Herald Square, Union Square, Madison Square Park et al.
Outdoor smoking banned. Now, there is a growing movement, sly as it may be to pretty much not allow smokers to even smoke in their private residence in NYC. It's true, the Ariel West at Broadway and 99th has banned smoking in private dwellings.
We here at the Jersey City Desk are well aware of the dangers of second hand smoke. We support the smoking bans in offices, public events such as a Giants or Mets or Yankees game, anywhere there is a group of people in some kind of condensed area. But a fine for smoking in Central Park?
What are your thoughts dear readers? Should we simply just outlaw cigarettes (or try) since this seems to be the way society is headed? Should we even bother with trying to fine people who are using a legal product in an open space that doesn't inebriate them?
Tell us your thoughts...
As much as I hate to be around cigarette smoke, even outside, this ban goes too far. But two advantages I can think of are that sidewalks and park grounds will be cleaner (some smokers think of earth as their private ashtray) and the city will spend less money on grounds crews to clean it up.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more...
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