Houston bans smoking in city parks

[TexasTowelie]

Houston city parks soon will be smoke-free and a ban already in place at libraries will be expanded to include all outdoor library property, staff announced at a city meeting Wednesday.

Both department heads said the move is driven by public health and environmental concerns.

The parks policy marks the most dramatic shift: There currently is no smoking ban at city parks. That is in contrast to 36 other Texas cities and seven of the country's largest cities that already have bans in place.

Smoking currently is banned inside library buildings and within 25 feet of the entrance. Library Director Rhea Lawson made it clear at a Febuary quality of life meeting that she would like to broaden regulations to include library property, such as parking lots and plazas. At Wednesday's meeting, she said the time had come to put those rules into effect

More at http://www.chron.com/news/politics/houston/article/Houston-library-and-parks-to-announce-new-5641342.php?cmpid=rrhoustontx .

[efhmc]

1. Houston is a progressive great city.

[kentauros]

2. Indeed it is!

Yet you can't convince those outside of Texas of the same.

So, come on in and live here, y'all! Help us turn it bluer than California

[efhmc]

3. Iwish I could go back but am stuck in middle right wing Texas.

Lived there 25 years and brought up my daughters there. They both know how lucky they were to grow up in that diverse, art and museum laden, food yummy city. We all miss it so much.