Smoking ordinance smolders

Given the known dangers of second hand smoke, it is only a matter of time before a non-smoker with no particular sensitivity successfully sues a smoker for assault. And maybe the city for creating a dangerous condition.

If a person sprayed passers-by with Malathion, a known carcinogen, undoubtedly he would be considered a danger and arrested. A smoker can involuntarily spray hundreds of people with a *stronger* carcinogen. Why do we continue to allow it, or think there is a "right" to assault?

Sheesh.

As a smoker myself, I'm now for it. I try not to smoke in public anyway and if I slip up, no big, I get a ticket. Marijuana shoud be treated the same way and sold openly at that tobacco shop. There ought to be commercial smoking parlors, where adult smokers can go in, have a cigar or a spliff, and not have to be around a bunch of whiney non smoker crybabies. And all other public areas should be off limits to smoking.

www.NoSmokingPasadena.com has a great deal of information on this subject. I urge all residents to contact their Council representative and voice your support. Contact information is on www.NoSmokingPasadena.com .

Why don't they just make cigarettes illegal? Eventually, all cities will follow and then what?!
The tobacco companies are the ones that should be banned...you need to cut off the "blood supply" before you start punishing the victims/addicts.
Our freedom is being controlled and that's when we get in trouble.

I think it's riduculous to waste time banning smokers from every square inch of outdoor space - they've already banned them from everywhere but their homes.
I have no fear of passive smoke from a passerby on the sidewalk (that said - as long as they are properly disposing of their butts), and I think law enforcement have much bigger things to worry about, so the law itself would be almost meaningless.
RE: "Sheesh's" comment about malathion - about 2 years ago on a Sunday afternoon, someone in our neighborhood misused malathion. The neighborhood was blanketed in a fog of the stuff. After many phonecalls, the sheriff and fire dept. finally responded, but did nothing. I know they found the offender. Misusing yard chemicals is a federal offence - it's right on the label.
So what do you think they'll do to a rogue smoker?

I don't care about what laws they decide to pass. I livvve in Pasadena and the cops here let the gangs run the place. Pasadena has a very high crime rate due to conflicts with African Americans and recent (mostly illegal) immigrants. Gang ,embers everywhere. The city doesn't do nothing. All they care about is Old Town and the area's east of Hill Street or South of Colrado. If you call to report a problem anywhere else, especially in the North West the cops won't respond for at least 30 or 40 minutes. Very dangerous area to be if you're white. So you can't smoke in Old Town, ask me if I care.

This town is a dump.

yea - hope it goes thru - please include common areas in condo complexes

"Smokers should not have the right to smoke, nor to impose their poison upon others," said resident Nancy Sagatelian of the Pasadena Tobacco Prevention Coalition.

While the second part of her sentence is correct, the first is frightening. Is Sagatelian the judge of what people can do with their bodies? I submit if she had cosmetic surgery, took prescription medications, drank alcohol and so on, I should be able to determine her right to do so. I disagree with those things, therefore it's not right for her, or anyone else reading these posts. Blow smoke on others, no, smokers have no right to that. But to smoke and inhale, they have the absolute right. That's what is alarming about anti-tobacco, anti-drug, anti-abortion (etc.) groups, is their headlong charge to legislate morals and behavior, trampling upon individuals' choice in the process, when those individuals are only hurting themselves.

A counter argument would be the cost of caring for smokers. That argument could be used to outlaw sports. How many injuries are the result of athletic activities. How about rescuing stranded hikers? That has a monetary value also, and is far from a necessary act. The groups that are too far righteous are hurting their cause.

PS: Sheesh, I don't agree with a lot of your posts, but I do like them! Keep up the good work!

I am an ex-smoker and I do not care for the smell. Truth is, there are only a few inconsiderate smokers who make it a problem. I am not sure I can see punishing all smokers for a few bad apples.

On the other hand, my neighbor smokes very nasty cigars that fill my house as I live downwind. Can we have him arrested and shot please?

Sheesh wrote:

Given the known dangers of second hand smoke, it is only a matter of time before a non-smoker with no particular sensitivity successfully sues a smoker for assault. And maybe the city for creating a dangerous condition.
If a person sprayed passers-by with Malathion, a known carcinogen, undoubtedly he would be considered a danger and arrested. A smoker can involuntarily spray hundreds of people with a *stronger* carcinogen. Why do we continue to allow it, or think there is a "right" to assault?
Sheesh.

Quit whining like a baby. All your posts, you cry and complain like a little, bratty child. Get over yourself already!

Pasadena would be joining the ranks of other world-class cities that have already taken steps to limit nonsmokers' exposure to secondhand smoke in crowded public places- these include Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Calabasas, Seattle, Honolulu, Vancouver and Santa Fe. San Francisco is also now considering a similar policy to Pasadena's. Keep up the good work and here's to a Smoke-Free Rose Parade in '09!!!

Kudos Paul Ramirez wrote:

Keep up the good work and here's to a Smoke-Free Rose Parade in '09!!!

How about NO Rose Parade? Think of all the fumes from the cars and trucks that haul the floats(disel?) throwing millions of carcinogens into your smog filled air.

ROFLMAO

The amount of toxins that we inhale from occasionally breathing second-hand smoke in the open air doesn't even compare to the amount of toxins that we breath on a daily basis from motor vehicles and industrial pollution. In fact, the amount of pollution in our general air due to smokers is undetectable. Also, the gas emitted by flatulence is toxic as well. But the occasional small doses that we have the displeasure of breathing is harmless. I don't like the smell of smoke, but it's even more disturbing to smell other people's foul bodily emissions. Should we make FARTING illegal too?

PS - The average cost of health care for smokers is less than that of non-smokers... they die younger. The most expensive health care costs are usually accumulated from sixty years old and on.

If Second Hand Smoke is so dangerous, name 3 (verifiable) people that have "Second Hand Smoke" listed as the cause of death on their death certificates.

bdjunker wrote:

<quoted text>
How about NO Rose Parade? Think of all the fumes from the cars and trucks that haul the floats(disel?) throwing millions of carcinogens into your smog filled air.
ROFLMAO

Thats a classic!

Not to mention the million or so out of towners that drive into the city for the parade and game! Lets just ban new years all together. When did we become the peoples republic of America?

Sheesh wrote:

Given the known dangers of second hand smoke, it is only a matter of time before a non-smoker with no particular sensitivity successfully sues a smoker for assault. And maybe the city for creating a dangerous condition.
If a person sprayed passers-by with Malathion, a known carcinogen, undoubtedly he would be considered a danger and arrested. A smoker can involuntarily spray hundreds of people with a *stronger* carcinogen. Why do we continue to allow it, or think there is a "right" to assault?
Sheesh.

What about all the people who are allergic to perfume and cologne.. Anaphalactic shock kills instantly. No waiting involved.

And they say that everyone in California is happy about the bans... I guess they thought wrong.

You should also consider the fact we are downwind of China.

When did we become the peoples republic of America?

When Morons thought they'd ruin it for everyone by stinking up the joint for decent folks. Don't worry you will still be allowed to smoke in your trailer parks.