Santa Cruz, CA, approves wide-ranging smoking ban

[Auggie]

In addition to major downtown streets, the ban includes all city property, including the wharf and City Hall, its adjacent parking lots, all parks, benches and landscaping. In addition, the rules would increase the required percentage of non-smoking hotel rooms in Santa Cruz from 75 percent to 90 percent.

San Jose Mercury News, 9-9-9

SANTA CRUZ — City leaders on Tuesday unanimously approved a smoking ban along Pacific Avenue, Beach Street and West Cliff Drive, among other spots, and agreed to consider a new fee on cigarette sales in the near future.

"Our kids are picking up cigarette butts, kids are breathing cigarette smoke and it doesn't encourage a family atmosphere," said Councilman Ryan Coonerty, who proposed the ban along with Councilmen Mike Rotkin and Don Lane at the prompting of many in town. The ban was warmly received by the audience of about 40 people, most of whom supported the new rules. Corinne Highland told the council she hoped it would create a cleaner environment for her 3-year-old.

"My 3-year-old picked up a cigarette butt and I shrieked," she said.

Some encouraged the council to go even further and eventually ban all outdoor smoking in Santa Cruz.

MORE: http://www.mercurynews.com/centralcoast/ci_13298719

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

1. "My 3-year-old picked up a cigarette butt and I shrieked"

So what exactly happens when the person in question leaves Santa Cruz and goes somewhere else? You can't just miracle away the smokers.

[enid602]

4. lucky

How lucky she is that she lives in a world where there are no more pressing issues than the potential horror of her 3 year old discovering a cigarette butt.

[The Straight Story]

5. Quick call the bomb squad and have a robot remove the butt- smokers are terrarists

Run fer the hills mabel and lock yerself up in the cabin, lest some smoke waft by ya and kill ya dead.

[Matariki]

8. People like that need to live inside some sort of vacuum seal.

Where reality just can't get to them.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

14. My cousin and his wife have tried.

Their current obsession is that electromagnetic radiation from their wiring is going to give their kids leukemia. So you can imagine how well they react to - gasp - cigarettes.

[brendan120678]

My 16-month old picked up a cigarette butt the other day...

I took it away from him, told him, "No! Yuck! No!" and threw it away.

[SoCalDem]

17. Remember table-lighters & big ole decorative ashtrays?

our 3 survived these..as well as extension cords, un-padlocked cupboards, and a plethora of other "dangers"..

A slap on the hand and a stern "NO ! " was good enough back then..no need for therapists & lifestyle coaches for toddlers:)

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

25. Well, I will say one thing...

I'm fairly sure that my parents (who were social smokers) and some of their friends (who were heavy smokers) and my grandfather (who by all rights should be dead by now of sixteen different types of cancer) certainly had something to do with my taking up smoking when I was older.

HOWEVER...

This insane thing that exists in California and probably other places of ostracising smokers probably does at least as much harm as it does good. For teenagers it just ads to the mystique of a forbidden thing. And some of these parents are just plain crazy. I swear they'd keep their children in bubbles if they could. God help you if you go to China or Belgium or Switzerland with your eight year old. Certainly the cultural benefits would be far outweighed by their exposure to - gasp! - cigarette smoke.

[SoCalDem]

26. Tahiti !!.. Ashtrays in elevators and on school buses

:rofl:

There's a school bus that treks around Moorea all day long, and non-students can just hop on for $2.00 and get off wherever they want..

ashtrays..and the bus driver's smoking a cigar & wearing flip-flops.. no proper seats either..just benches & a railing that you hand onto for dear life:)

[Moderate Dem]

2. I've already got a mommy.

[TransitJohn]

3. Left handed cigarettes still okay!

I've spent a lot of time in Santa Cruz, and this is anti tobacco zealotry of the highest order.

[Matariki]

6. "My 3-year-old picked up a cigarette butt and I shrieked"

Children truly ARE The Crowbar of Fascim. Seems whatever you want to press on people all you need to do is evoke 'The Children'.

I don't smoke, never have and am allergic to smoke - but I think this is over the top. Especially using that worn out cliche 'The Children'.

[NYC_SKP]

7. Fine by me, I don't go there anymore. Capitola, Aptos, Seacliff, are much nicer.

Fuck Santa Cruz.

I drive by there several times a year but always stay in one of the nearby cities/towns.

:patriot:

[Xicano]

12. Santa Cruz is a marijuana sanctuary from federal authorities

Santa Cruz leaders help in marijuana giveaway at City Hall

MARTHA MENDOZA / AP 18sep02

SANTA CRUZ - Calling Santa Cruz a sanctuary from federal authorities, medical marijuana advocates - joined by city leaders - passed out pot to about a dozen sick people at City Hall.

"Santa Cruz is a special place, and today we're letting the world know how compassionate we can be," Mayor Christopher Krohn said. "We're taking a stand."

More than 1,000 community members jammed into the garden-like courtyard for a supportive demonstration during the giveaway. Some held signs reading, "DEA Go Away" and "U.S. Out Of Santa Cruz."

Several people in the crowd lit marijuana cigarettes, but it was mostly an alcohol and drug-free gathering, which was what organizers requested. Marijuana is illegal as a medicine or as a recreational drug under federal law. But state law, and county and city ordinances, say it's legal if recommended by a doctor.

Drug Enforcement Administration spokesman Richard Meyer said he was appalled by Tuesday's event, and feared the community is sending a dangerous message to its children.

http://www.mindfully.org/Health/2002/Santa-Cruz-Marijuana-Giveaway18sep02.htm

Santa Cruz Gives the Feds a WAMM

http://santacruz.indymedia.org/newswire/display/1802

[NYC_SKP]

22. Well, much of California is.

Even in Sunnyvale a dude I know was pulled over, had on title or registration, had his car confiscated and was found with less than an oz of humboldt skunk.

He had his medical card and walked away.

Or so he said. :P

[Warpy]

9. There is no real reason for banning it outdoors

Yes, it stinks and it's unpleasant to see all the trash that smokers leave behind, but there is no compelling health or public safety issue here.

I'm allergic to it and I really hate smoking, but even I think this ban is so over the top it will be unenforceable.

As for that shrieking mother, she's lucky the kid didn't eat it. It's called supervision, Mom, and it's your job, not the government's.

[paulsby]

10. nannystate legislation always cries "do it for the children"

what complete crap

[gateley]

11. *gateley crossing Santa Cruz off her vacation wish list*

[Xicano]

13. Have you seen this about Santa Cruz yet?

:)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6500879&mesg_id=6501074

[gateley]

16. No! Hadn't seen it -- good for them. Thanks! nt

[Xicano]

21. You're very welcome

:) :hi:

[SoCalDem]

18. We nixxed a train trip up the coast to Seattle

because we decided that being "let off the train" every now and then for a smoke break was not something we wanted to spend thousands of dollars to do.. So we'll take a leisurely 10 day drive up the coast instead.

[LeftinOH]

15. Kids playing in a yard sprayed with lawn chemicals is worse than picking up a used butt

- and, banning outdoor smoking? Please.

[SoCalDem]

20. Yep.. when we bought our house in Kansas, Chem-Lawn came with it

and when I called them to see about transferring the service from the previous people to us, they warned about pets in the yard for 12 hours after the "treatment" (we had a small dog).. I asked about kids, and they said.."Oh, it's safe for kids..as long as they don't roll around on the grass, until the next day or so".. I canceled the service, and somehow, our yard still looked nice:)

[Swamp Rat]

19. THINK OF THE CHILLREN!!!

[Toasterlad]

23. "My 3-year-old picked up a cigarette butt and I shrieked," she said.

I SINCERELY hope this three-year old is smoking a pack a day by 12 years old.

[Oeditpus Rex]

24. This isn't very different from much of Kollyforniya

When I, a smoker, read it this morning in the Santa Cruz Sentinel, I just shrugged. Other than City Hall and other city property, all they've done is ban smoking where the tourists congregate.

Beach Street is three blocks long; it runs along the Boardwalk. The only time most people are on it is when they cross it to get to one of the parking lots.

West Cliff Drive goes past some of the most popular beaches. We've got a ton of 'em.

Pacific Avenue is four blocks long. It's where all the freaks hang, and where there'll be the most violations of the ordinance.

This is still a damned cool place to live, compared to almost anyplace else. :hippie:

[yawnmaster]

27. My 3 year old picked up an old piece of chewing gum and I shrieked.

outlaw chewing gum.