NYC Bans Smoking Outdoors - Parks, Pedestrian Plazas, etc

[ManicMaurice]

Ok, so I was in favor of the trans-fat ban and I even lean towards being okay with the new regulations on salt content in packaged foods, but now I'm starting to feel a twinge of regret for my stance on these issues because it has indeed become a slippery slope.

Reuters > New York City Council votes to ban smoking in parks

Outdoor Smoking Banned in New York City

 

[RippleInStillWater]

Do they really think that smoking is the cause of most of the airborne carcinogens in the city? Well, it sounds good to politicians to go after sins when they have no solutions to any actual problems!

 

[Petrodus]

In New York, a bill is pending in the legislature’s transportation committee
that would ban the use of mobile phones, iPods or other electronic devices
while crossing streets...runners and other exercisers included.

I guess "other electronic devices" could include E-cigarettes

What's in the water in NY?

Article: Click Here

 

[5vz]

Wow, this is out of control.

I was told a couple of years ago that California has this law in place, and has for some time. I never looked it up, as I am not going to go to CA, but this is just way overboard.

Getting angry about Big Brother again, goodness knows the US will explode some day with revolt. Don't want to see that happen.

 

[JohnKing]

Get in the wagon!

 

[otrpu]

I can remember when California tried to ban tobacco cig smoking in OTR Tractors. . .Under the guise of the driver filling out his DOT required Log, they tried calling the tractor cab. . .the driver's office. Now I get it. . .they'd tax or ban farts if they could. JMHO

Cheers,
otrpu

 

[MoonRose]

Whoopie was flaming mad this morning on the View about this law. Sure do wish she would take up using a PV and show how it works while on the View. But I don't think she's ever responded to the many offers that were made to give her a PV.

 

[maxx]

So sad what the anti-smokers are doing to our children. Destroying every semblence of freedom our forefathers fought for....leaving them a fascist state. Worse than that...even teaching them it is OK to be a bigot. Won't someone think of the children?

 

[Turnkeys]

First word out of my mouth reading this, "Seriously???"

While researching the facts of PVs over the past few weeks in order to debunk the 'evils' spouted by anti's, I started coming across articles regarding secondhand smoke and studys the EPA, AHA and ACS found inconvenient. But as they were generally off topic I usually read them for personal interest and moved on. Now, more and more, I'm beginning to believe the title heading of one of them. The second-hand smoke myth: junk science's greatest triumph. The article isn't complete on this link, but there're plenty of others that paint the picture...

Google: Second hand smoke junk science

Google: second hand smoke myth

Here're a few I picked out of the two searches above:

Secondhand smoke effects overstated?

Secondhand Smoke and Mirrors

Politics clouding objective science: Secondhand smoke; EPA manipulated information to fit policy

The Second-Hand Smoke Charade

The Facts about second hand smoke - Agendas

Is the "threat" of second hand smoke junk science?

Myth: Secondhand Smoke is a killer

Up in Secondhand Smoke: What Does Science Tell Us?

Anti-Smoking Crusade: The Truths and Myths about Smoking

Have we as a nation been duped by health nazis? I certainly can't deny that second-hand smoke can be an irritant, but cancer? Why do so few know that over 40% of the studies done found no correlation? That those that claimed correlation were so low as to be negligible?

I've no interest in going back to analogs. The desire is just gone. And there're too many flavors I haven't tried yet. lol But I am quite angry about legislators messing with our choices. They want to trans-fat in the fast food industry next, and salt levels in food. Problems yes, but is this really the most pressing concern of lawmakers today? "Seriously???"

I leave you with this; prophetic?

Consider this quote by one of the leaders of the anti-smoker movement:

"The next two obvious steps, already in progress, are restricting smoking on beaches, parks, lines, doorways...and then restricting it in homes, particularly where there are sensitive children."

- John Banzhaf, CBS Good Morning, April 22, 2001

 

[jamma]

So now the air will be clean?

I wonder what Mayor Michael Bloomberg would prefer to share an unventilated room with; 20 chain smokers or one running car?

 

[RobertY]

If so that is wholly asinine. Just think 4 brake shoes per cabbie. Brake shoe dust. Mmmm....

Do they really think that smoking is the cause of most of the airborne carcinogens in the city? Well, it sounds good to politicians to go after sins when they have no solutions to any actual problems!

 

[Petrodus]

Just saw a short piece on CNN stating that New York banned smoking outside
in order to "Protect the Children from 2nd hand smoke."

 

[Bootsand]

I wonder what Mayor Michael Bloomberg would prefer to share an unventilated room with; 20 chain smokers or one running car?

I really, really like the way you put this. It really puts things in perspective.

 

[Turnkeys]

So now the air will be clean?

I wonder what Mayor Michael Bloomberg would prefer to share an unventilated room with; 20 chain smokers or one running car?

Let's take a vote and decide FOR him!! That would be the political thing to do, right?

 

[Petrodus]

Tanning Ban Could Be Next for New York

"The World Health Organization (WHO) classified
tanning a definite human carcinogen putting it
in the same group as smoking"

 

[Turnkeys]

WHO Stats: Skin cancer risks from tanning beds. +75% for a one time user, +250%-300% for repeated use. Love to see how they drummed up those numbers..

 

[Vocalek]

Politicians can be hazardous to your health, not to mention your wealth.

 

[Turnkeys]

Help! I just realized I forgot to take the skin off the chicken breast I had for lunch!!

Anyone near SW Wa, that can come help me post bail? I just *KNOW* they're coming for me!!

 

[maxx]

Cry me a river....

Whenever someone starts complaining about tanning bans, or food bans, or sin taxes on things they like, or generally legislating morality and health....ask them where they stood when anti-smoking bigotry swept the country. Did they support it....or the smokers? And ask why they didn't listen when we tried to explain the "slippery slope".

Screw em'....and maybe when more bans come down the pike, they will finally wake up. We tend to blame the government, the FDA, organized special interest, etc....but ultimately it is the people that empowers those groups by going along like the sheep they are. No sympathy for the bronze beach babes from me....at least not until I can smoke on the same beach without getting arrested or dirty looks.

(off soapbox)

 

[LynGBH]

Just for the record, in response to those screeching about "socialist" democrats, Bloomberg is a republican.