Yet another L.A. ban For Your Own Good™

Gee, who could have seen this coming?

Smoking is already banned in Los Angeles restaurants and bars, as well as parks and beaches. However, one Los Angeles City Council member wants to ban smoking from all public places, both inside and out.

[...]

"Wherever people congregate, or there is an expectation of people being present, smoking should be prohibited," said L.A. City Councilman Bernard Parks.

Parks says current restrictions are a patchwork put together by many city leaders.

"Greg Smith is talking specifically about parks, just as Jack Weiss talked specifically about beaches ... So we're saying there is a larger number of places, public places, where people congregate beyond these specific locations," said Parks.

Parks, who is also running for County Supervisor, is calling for a countywide measure for all unincorporated areas.

Parks favors a ban similar to Calabasas, where offenders are fined $500 and repeat offenders face jail time.

Well, ain't that just fuckin' great?

Look, somking is a nasty habit. I know because I'm a smoker. If I didn't smoke, I'd be a lot healthier and a lot wealthier. I know people don't like second hand smoke, too. That's fine. When I go out for a smoke in public, I try not to do it right around other people, especially little kids.

But you know what, Bernard? Tobacco is legal. Furthermore, we smokers pay a lot of taxes that the rest of you use for all sorts of things. We also go to places like bars and restaurants and concert venues, where we spend more money, generating more tax revenue. If you don't want us in L.A., maybe we'll spend that money elsewhere.

Put that in your pipe and...well...

Posted by: Sean M. at 09:45 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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