If you’re looking to find a place to smoke in New York City, then things just got a little tougher for you. Yesterday, the New York City Council approved a proposed smoking ban to go alongside its existing smoking ban indoors in public buildings. This time, New York City has banned smoking in outdoor public gathering places, like pedestrian plazas, beaches, and public parks. Basically, anywhere that smokers and nonsmokers will congregate together and breathe the same air is a place where smokers can no longer smoke.
As a non-smoker who is very allergic to cigarette smoke, I can wholeheartedly approve of this, even while the libertarian in me screams at the violation of a person’s right to poison their own lungs, damage their body, and yellow their teeth gets limited. Still, while they can do what they want to their body, I’d rather not have to breathe their cigarette smoke when I’m just trying to hang out at the beach or go to the park or walk down the street.
The smoking ban goes into effect 90 days after it is signed by New York mayor Mike Bloomberg. The ban covers 1400 parks, plus 14 miles of public beaches, boardwalks, marinas, and pools. Also covered? Times Square, which is considered a pedestrian plaza. No signing date has been indicated; the tickets will be given out by the New York City Parks Department.
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