New York City is ready to take actions that concerns prohibiting smoking outside. One city lawmaker proposed a compromise- a smoking section in each city park. “In case there is a very large park and a small smoking section, I think that it will be difficult to argue that you are going to inhale somebody else’s smoke,” City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. stated.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg as well as other council members support a total prohibit on smoking in parks, in pedestrian plazas and public beaches. This ban would be in conformity with local laws that already prohibit smoking in bars, restaurants and other public places.

Those who stand in favor of this ban, state that even a little exposure to secondhand smoke can cause dangerous illnesses. As you get older as I am, you have too many friends with cancer. We do not want that this happens to the future generation,” declared Councilwoman Gale Brewer. “I am an anti smoking advocate and I think that the bill Brewer is financing to prohibit smoking in parks goes too far. Smoking sections don’t work in indoor spaces like bars or restaurants, but that concerns outdoor they are quite workable,” said Vallone.

Recently the council’s committee on health conducted a meeting on Brewer’s bill and Vallone’s compromise. There will one more additional meeting before the vote is held.

States and cities from Maine to California have prohibited smoking in all public parks and beaches, but New York wants to implement one of the large-scale urban bans, covering more than 1,700 parks and 14 miles of public beaches, marinas and boardwalks. “The anti-smoking war is a war of the chattering classes against needy people,” said Stephen Helfer of Cambridge, Mass., who traveled to New York for a pro-smoker rally in City Hall Park before the meeting. “Tobacco control is out of control,” concluded Helfer holding a cigar in his left hand.

Barbara Fischer of Staten Island stated that worries of second hand smoke’s effect are based on “junk science. There is no scientific proof that second hand smoke causes any harmful effects,” she declared.

Advocates of this ban also rallied on the steps of City Hall. “It is well known that there is no safe level of secondhand smoke. Not inside or outside. Not anywhere,” stated Dr. Maureen Killackey, chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society’s New York and New Jersey chapter. Brewer was asked about the proposed compromise, she said that she was willing to listen to Vallone’s idea but also noted “I believe that it is very difficult to enforce this law”.

Christopher Ortega, a citizen of New York City said that in a public park you should be able to smoke a cigarette. He appreciated the idea of smoking sections rather than a complete ban.

By Sara Norton, Staff Writer. Copyright © 2010 Cigarette-Store.org. All rights reserved.