Calabasas no smoking law begins next month (outdoor smoking ban)

[The Straight Story]

Calabasas no smoking law begins next month
Some exceptions are allowed
By Michael Picarella [e-mail]

The new Calabasas secondhand smoke ordinance, which would prohibit smoking in all public areas of the city including parks, sidewalks and outdoor businesses, will take effect by the middle of March, city officials said.

Final passage of the ordinance is expected at the city council’s Feb. 15 meeting.

At its Feb. 1 meeting the council outlined certain exceptions to the law.

Officials from the Los Angeles County Department of Health, the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association, Healthier Solutions, Inc., Smoke-Free Air for Everyone and the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Los Angeles expressed strong support for the new law. Of the 17 public speakers at the meeting, all but one supported the ordinance.

Last month, California became the first state to declare second-hand tobacco smoke a toxic air pollutant.

“. . .The California Air Resources Board, which is the agency which regulates air quality in California, has adopted a regulation to treat secondhand smoke as a toxic pollutant of the air, like the kinds of things that come out of petroleum smoke stacks and out of the tailpipes of cars,” said Michael Colantuono, Calabasas city attorney. “That decision is the first time a state regulatory agency of any state in the nation has reached that conclusion.

http://www.theacorn.com/news/2006/0209/Front_page/001.html

[madaboutharry]

1. As a person who can not stand to be

near people smoking, I think this is extreme.

[acmavm]

3. Me too. I used to smoke but had to quit for health reasons. But this

smacks a bit too much of government interference. I mean, it's legal to buu and sell cigarettes. The government subsidizes tobacco farmers (so I've been told). So, what are they gonna do? Jail repeat offenders for doing something that's legal except for certain places?

Weird. But there was a group in California that tried to outlaw perfumes and colognes a few years back. Anything is possible.

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

55. health reasons? what? it was killing you? and you want others to share?

that isn't very nice!

[acmavm]

57. Of course not. But until there's a law that makes it illegal, and everyone

has access to those horribly expensive patches (although I didn't use mine all up anyway) then the gov should knock it off. You can't legislate manners or common sense.

[PVK]

65. I quit because I was getting headaches. It wasn't killing me.

Some people are just fine with smoking, healthwise. Not everyone dies from it or has serious consequences. I'd wager lots more people die from people driving drunk than from second-hand smoke.

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

70. cigarettes are nearly 100% fatal- unless you believe the tobacco companies

the grim reality of cigarette smoking--denial helps but won't cure the illnesses or the cancers.
Second hand? who cares?
Should be illegal to profit on the suffering of those addicted.
The addicted nearly always die.
And cancer is NOT pretty-
Just went through it with a relative.

[anitar1]

67. There isn't money for keeping everyone in jail

anymore, but there is a lot of money to be made in fining those who break the new law. And it is easy money ,just write a ticket.I read that *'s new budget is full of "user fees". these are not taxes m,mind you, but user fees for being allowed to drive a car, ride a plane ect.Maybe for being allowed to breathe.

[movonne]

15. Well maybe they should put smoking on the drug list....Like pot..same

difference, except pot smoking from all I read is not as bad for your health...or make all of it legal...

[Trillo]

48. You can bet as soon as the cost for the price of a pack of cigarettes

rises much beyond its current pricing (I think it's around $3-4 now), some smokers will start to grow their own tobacco. I saw a news item just the other day about a community that wants to raise the retail price to $8 per pack with a new tax and use the tax revenue for something health related.

If smokers growing their own becomes a significant trend, governments' only option to maintain absolute control will be to outlaw the plant itself. Right now, outlawing the growing of it seems unlikely, mostly because Big Tobacco likely wants it to remain legal.

However, there will be a point reached where someone says, "You know what, we can make more money with this off the legal market, therefore reducing the supply, and sell it black market." Then, expect to see the price be $100 or more per pack with no auditable government revenues, though, certain government agencies may want to use it for off-the-books black-ops funding.

[enid602]

2. air quality

They need to do something out there to make it look like they are concerned about air quality; just breathing can kill you.

[henslee]

5. This is very true. The Santa Monica mountains just trap the bad air.

[Che_Nuevara]

4. I do agree with indoor smoking bans,

but this is, if nothing else, completely unenforcable.

[mongo]

6. What a bunch of fascist freaks!

Damn good thing I don't live in Ca. Totalitarianism from the left is not better than from the right.

[Grown2Hate]

9. I was about to ask that question, if anyone knew the political makeup of..

...that area. I have a closet liberal that I work with (swears by Bush and Republicans, but only because he has NO CLUE as to what's going on... and he doesn't vote anyhow, so it doesn't piss me off as much as it could... I think he's just trying to irritate me most of the time). He stands with the Dems on almost everything (unknowingly). However, he mentioned this the other day (although he heard it was all of California passing a smoking ban, to where you couldn't even smoke in your own BACKYARD... further proving to me how un(and/or mis)informed he really is).

So, is it more of a Democratic area, or Republican (out of curiosity)? Thanks for any help.

[wtmusic]

17. more Republican than Democrat n/t

[sam sarrha]

11. sorry, you miss used the term Fascist, the tobacco corporations are the

Fascists when they buy the votes of our elected officials with campaign contributions. the new speaker, Boner' was actually passing out checks from the Tobacco Corporations on the floor of the House of Representatives before a vote.

the people that passed that are just concerned people.. you need to read up on the statistics of second hand smoke

Fascism is Corporatism... Tobacco use and paraphernalia should not be allowed in view of children.

please note that DENIAL is a major symptom of DRUG ADDICTION.. once that is acknowledged, your are well under way to Recovery.

the reason we cant have universal health care in this country is the cost of the catastrophic cost of tobacco and alcohol mediacal problems, the powers that be feel it is subcizng the Addictive Drug Companies...

[Lance_Boyle]

18. the previous poster likely meant "authoritarianism"

Which is definitely as ugly coming from the left as from the right.

Clearly, though, we are in need of a Godwin's Law for blatant "won't somebody think of the children" nonsense such as you posted. I recommend calling it "Lovejoy's Law." The first person in a discussion about anything to resort to "for the children" automagically loses.

[NuttyFluffers]

37. bwa ha ha, i thought i was the only one who thought that! :D

i adore the idea of "Lovejoy's Law." anytime that "for the children" comment comes up i immediately tune out. it's such a ham-fisted, hyperbolic canard -- and even when it isn't it's so off turning that it might as well be. i think south park did a spoof on that "for the children" political shuttlecock in some episode.

[Bake]

23. Sorry, you misused "miss used."

Sure, cigarettes are addictive. And yes, I'm an ADDICT. What business is it of yours?

By the way, what the hell is "subcizng?"

Bake

On edit: I had to ask about "subcizng."

[Psephos]

30. lol n/t

[sam sarrha]

49. F the spelling Nazi's..

let those that have never pressed the wrong key.. step up and remove any doubt they need medication

[Bake]

63. Spelling Nazis are no worse than the Smoke Nazis.

That was my whole point. You made a ridiculous argument that smoking in view of children should be criminalized, so I called BULLSHIT on it by calling attention to your blatant errors. Frankly, if you want anyone to take your argument seriously, make it coherently and intelligently, and LEARN HOW TO SPELL.

Otherwise STFU.

If I submit a brief to a judge and it is filled with typos or spelling errors, it weakens my argument by reducing my credibility.

Bake

[High Plains]

24. The reason we can't have health care is because of smokers?

Give me a break.

[JVS]

76. Those Europeans with health care never ever drink or smoke

:sarcasm:

[rinsd]

27. Please won't someone think of the children!

"Tobacco use and paraphernalia should not be allowed in view of children"

Shall we go on to the very long list of behaviors I feel are inappropriate in front of children but I would never decide to legislate the banning of?

"the reason we cant have universal health care in this country is the cost of the catastrophic cost of tobacco and alcohol mediacal problems"

Actually part of the reason some people fear universal health care is the banning of "unhealthy" behaviors by the health insurance provider (the government)as a way of balancing the bottom line. But instead of it being a private contract it would be the law of the land.

Fascism is about control usually under the guise of saving one from themselves.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

7. I'm so glad that I can now breathe pure diesel fumes uncontaminated

by smoke while I wait for my bus every day.

Our city bus system has just recently created this little gem of a rule. No smoking in the bus mall or transit centers.

Can you tell I think it's the stupidest thing I've heard in a long time?

by the way, I haven't seen anybody follow the rule unless theres a transit cop near.

[sam sarrha]

8. should be a serious fine for smoking in view of minors..

it is time to treat tobacco as the deadly drug it is and eleminate their recruiting of children, also

[Viva_La_Revolution]

10. yes! and eating McDonalds in front of them too

and playing Snoop Dog within their earshot!

Fascism rules!

[NanceGreggs]

12. Good one!

As my husband said when McDonalds went no-smoking:

"Finally! Now you can enjoy your nutrition-free meal in a smoke-free environment."

[sam sarrha]

14. that s stretch, except for the Dog shit music, the Gangster Thug culture

destroying the Black people.. i heard recently that the major cause of death for black males. 14 to 28 is their attitude.. it is responsible for a lot of the 60% of murders being committed blacks and 60% of the murders being young black men...

Dog is just a F'n Pimp

[Bake]

21. A stretch? Really?

Have you seen "Super Size Me?" Fast food may not be AS toxic as cigarette smoke (and I AM a smoker), but it sure as hell ain't good for you!

But then you probably LIKE a big ol' QPC. So I guess it depends on whose ox is being gored.

Any other legal practices/vices/etc. you'd like to ban? How about alcohol? Oh wait, we tried that with Prohibition -- that worked out really well, huh.

Bake

[High Plains]

26. Somebody is really full of it today.

[CBGLuthier]

29. I want to know what YOU are smoking

Because it is a hell of a lot better than anything I have had lately.

[NuttyFluffers]

39. hee hee, saving people from themselves is an impossible cause.

and the most difficult thing to save people from themselves about is self-righteous control freak.

food for thought.

:evilgrin:

[anitar1]

68. Gracious me! n/t

[Bake]

22. I suggest a serious fine for misspelling.

"Eliminate." Maybe if we fined people for misspelling, they'd pay more attention in school. And that would be a good thing.

Bake

[High Plains]

25. You're kidding, right?

Being seen with a cigarette should be a crime?

Getting a bit totalitarian here, aren't we?

[LiviaOlivia]

47. Hey sam

Let's throw smokers in prison and use them for Wal-Mart slave labor. Happy now? While you get your rocks off on punishing smokers how about BushCo rescinding enviro laws that will give you cancer 34 ways and on top of it all tax you for it...

[stepnw1f]

13. Extreme and Out of Bounds

I am all for folks quitting on their own, but this is force, which do not condone. Bad for politics, actually stupid. Who was behind this Bill?

[wtmusic]

16. Is there not a wildfire issue here as well?

They're extremely common in Calabasas...:shrug:

[sandnsea]

19. They ban smoking in extreme fire danger

So they already manage the wildfire problem.

[951-Riverside]

31. Cigarettes don't start fires

Firefighters start fires :)

[David Zephyr]

46. Calabasas

If I lived in Calabasas I would be supporting this issue even if I smoked and you hit the nail on the head, wtmusic.

Many here at the DU know that I nearly lost my home in the Grand Prix fire out here, was evacuated from my home for one week and those of us that live either in the wilderness or on the edge of it as the good folks in beautiful Calabasas do can appreciate this smoking ordinance.

[RebelOne]

20. I can only say that, as a smoker, I am glad I don't live there,

because I just might break the law when no one is looking.

[SoCalDem]

28. The smoking nazis are going to end up forcing me to move to Tahiti

if they keep this up :P...

Tahiti has so much going for it, and tolerance of others' "habits" is pretty high on my list :)

Somehow in the hurleyburley world we live in, they have managed to accomodate people who smoke and people who don't, and no one "hates anyone".. We LOVE it there:)

[anitar1]

69. Calabasas is not exactly the jewel of the country. I would not

want to live there.

[bluestateguy]

32. Down the slippery slope we go

Someday some town will make it illegal foe people to smoke in their own homes. It's coming, and it will all be camouflaged as "for the children".

[Contradistinction]

34. "For the children"

Exactly the reason I chose not to have kids. Uggh....Nothing's worse than breeder entitlement.

[redwitch]

45. "breeder entitlement"?

'splain please. :-)

[REP]

56. Hiding Behind Children to Make Unreasonable Demands

"Impeach Clinton over a blowjob - for the children" was the ultimate breeder entitlement mindset.

[The Traveler]

33. Any behavior that is not forbidden

is compulsory.

We're gettin' there ...

[YellowRubberDuckie]

35. Think of it like this:

Big Tobacco gives more money to republicans than anyone. If you smoke, you give money to Bush and his buddies.. The fewer places people have to smoke, the less people will smoke, the less money Bush and his buddies get. And besides, as long as you're staying away from the entryways of buildings where people enter and exit and I don't have to smell that crap, do what you want.
Duckie

[The Straight Story]

36. Kind of a twisted logic IMHO

I don't care whom they give money to. It is a legal substance and some people are going overboard when it comes to smoking. A business should be free to make some decisions. The more the government intrudes in our lives the more power we give people like bush.

[Redstone]

38. That's just fucking ridiculous.

Redstone

[The Straight Story]

40. Hey there redstone

check out that mansion and buy it yet :)

[Redstone]

41. Unfortunately, too far to drive to visit my customers (I don't fly on

commercial airliners, only in small planes)...otherwise, I'd have been on it right away.

I had dreams about that house the night we discussed it.

Redstone

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

42. THAT is a GOOD law-Tobbaco companies gain on YOUR PAIN-helps kick

the addiction if you can't fire up your ciggie whenever you want.

Compulsive smoking is insane.
It's just too easy to light up and then those around smokers
have to share in that self destructive habit by
breathing someone else's chemical polution.

In private almost any self destructive behavior is fine--
people should do whatever they want in private
-smoke drink whack your weenie to any movie you want- do hookers-
worship Christ while supporting invasions-
But there's no need to subject innocent bystanders to one's personal preferences.

We should be so stupid as to believe that we exercises some sort of " freedom"
by killing ourselves slowly with addictive cancer causing substances
that CORORATE PIGS make billions on as YOU die and suffer.

Anything that slows the addictive pleasure seeking gratification is one step in the right dirrection!
Even if you just were forced to roll your own it would slow you down just
long enough to THINK about what it is that you are actually doing to your body.

People should have the FREEDOM to not have to share in destructive behavior.

In public is not neccessarily the best place for EVERYTHING.
We have to consider the preferences of those around us.

GREAT LAW !!!

[Starbucks Anarchist]

59. This is a horrible law.

And, yes, smoking cigarettes is practicing freedom. It may not be YOUR type of freedom, but it is for the smoker.

If someone is smoking outside and you don't want to inhale it, then learn to walk around them. And if you do end up walking into someone's exhaled smoke for a whopping two seconds at best, don't worry, you're not going to die. :eyes:

Absolute "morality" is annoying and destructive, no matter what end of the political spectrum it comes from.

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

71. smoking is fatal- corporations make billlions killing addicted consumers

freedom?
No, freedom to make money is the only freedom there...and those who profit are the lowest form of parasite of society.

We just buried a relative- cancer is not pretty.

Reality check-
"morality" vs "reality"
Cigarettes are fatal-
who cares about second hand?-
check out reality.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

73. Smoking is fatal?

Really, I had no idea. :eyes:

You have the freedom not to smoke, just like I have the freedom to light up. That's the reality.

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

75. dohhhhh!!!! as Homer would say) !!- don't believe it- you have free will

but may your mind light up with understanding!
peace

[Vidar]

43. Leftwing puritanism now. I've never smoked, but this is just stupid.

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

54. should make it a federal law and hurt the corporations in the wallet

1-more people smoke less often-
2-people who don't want to inhale don't have to-
3-tobbacco corporate pigs who make billions seing addictive and fatal products lose money--

So what's wrong with that?

Supporting the idea that SOME corporations can make billions seling poison to consumers?-- that's "freedom"?
and if you don't then that's "puritan"?

Public use vs Private use-
Anything goes in private-
Certain things are ok in public.
That should be no problem for anyone.

[Vidar]

64. Good points but I respectfully disagree. Corporations will just

sell abroad and prohibition doesn't work.

[NashVegas]

44. If Second-Hand Smoke Is Declared a Toxic Air Pollutant

And it can be legally banned ...

Does this now mean California can now legally ban ALL toxic air pollutants, such as factory and automobile output?

Do they have the balls for that, or will they just pick on their favorite social outcasts?

[currents]

52. Good Point!

I'd like to see someone ban the internal combustion engine for smoking in public.

I'm sure one car emmits more smoke than the entire city of Calabasas's smoking population does combined.

[flashdebadge]

50. I can't stand the smell of cigarette smoke, but I don't believe that

banning it outside is a good idea. I am glad to see that people and organizations are starting to acknowledge that second hand smoke is hazardous. I feel sorry for people who have to work in environments where they are exposed to it. Employers should not allow smoking within confined areas. My 2 cents.

:9

[Trevelyan]

51. Gary Webb, the suicided reporter, who wrote about the bush branch of the

CIA's involvement in major drug trafficking said in a speech that the reason we all agree to pee in a cup which our parents and grandparents would have objected to as an infringement of rights was to get Americans used to being passive and controlled by government.

He also said some interesting things about the prison industrial complex. FISA had a letter in 1997 talking about civilian labor camps. Prescott Bush made a fortune on Aushwitz slave labor. About a decade when documents were released proving this some of the survivors and their relatives tried to sue the bush crime family who could afford the best lawyers and they quashed it.

[currents]

53. I was in Calabasas today. I took a piss in public on the side of

one of their streets.

I'm not kidding either. It's definately a Bush town, but the parts in the mountains are very nice. I took Mullholand from Calbasas to Stunt to the Beach today.

[saigon68]

60. Bravo--- Public Urination

I hope the residents like the smell.

Just like areas of San Francisco and Miami

[rucky]

61. Imagine how pissed the bikers are who hang out at Sagebrush

Cantina.

They're always smoking on the patio.

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

66. I applaud your boldness, sir. Hope you start a trend in that idiotic town

:toast:

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

58. What if I were to light-up up wind?

would I get fined! :shrug:

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

72. you'd still die-over time- only idiots kill themselvesfor no good reason

kickable addiction-
please wise up for your own health's sake!
seriously- I care about those who do it- just burried one...
there are other ways to lessen anxiety without carcinogens.
Tobacco if used in excess every day is 100% fatal over time.
It's never too late to quit and start healing the damage-
within weeks of quitting the lungs start to repair themselves

[truebrit71]

62. Nice of the council to "allow" smoking in your private residence...

...what a bunch of goddamned fascists....Indoor smoking ban I can understand, but OUTDOORS? On sidewalks? Gimme a friggin break....Where's the law that forces people to shower so I don't have to put up with their stinkin' B.O. in public??

Stupid, stupid, stupid...

[rfkrfk]

74. where is the Dem. leadership?, in this vital matter

{correct me if I am wrong}

I am not hearing anything from prominent Dems.

They should speak up.

the perpetual presidential candidates need to speak up,
smokers in Iowa and NH want to know where they stand.