In a move that circumvents the Democratic process, the City Council of San Antonio made changes to the municipal smoking ban without a public discussion or hearing. The council approved a ban that prohibits the use of tobacco in two of the cities highest traffic areas. It is now illegal to enjoy a legal product in the Main Plaza and Travis Park.
While the feds announced last week that they were looking to make all public housing smoke free, some cities have begun passing and enforcing such a ban. This week the Syracuse, NY public housing begins enforcing a smoke-free measure. Starting today, November 19, 2015 no one will be allowed to smoke at any of the properties that fall under the Syracuse Housing Authority jurisdiction. The measure effects 5,000 residents and a violation will be treated like a […]
Mayor Marty Walsh (D-Boston) is seeking to raise the tobacco purchase age from 18 to 21 and has submitted a plan to the Board of Health. If the measure is passed, the city would join 83 other communities in the state of Massachusetts to raise the legal age to purchase all tobacco and nicotine products from 18 to 21. According to WBUR, Boston’s NPR Station, Mayor Walsh said in a statement, “We know the consequences of […]
On the eastern end of Long Island, sits Suffolk County and last night the Legislature unanimously approved a measure that allows the county to ban smoking within private housing. The measure applies to common areas of apartment buildings, condominiums and other multi-family housing. The approval grants health officials access to health officials to those areas to enforce the law. The anti-smoking law was sponsored by Monica Martinez, a Democrat from Brentwood and covers apartment complexes […]
The city of San Francisco, California is looking to raise the minimum purchase age of tobacco products from 18 to 21. The move comes despite a National Association of Tobacco Outlets lawsuit that says cities can’t override California’s state age of 18. In October, the city of Healdsburg as well as Santa Clara County, Berkeley and other cities in the state were issued letters threatening a lawsuit from NATO and are now considering to follow the lead of Healdsburg […]
The City Council in Cleveland, Ohio has created a work group that is making an effort to create new legislation to be submitted to the council on December 7, 2015. The new legislation may follow the example of the Cleveland Clinic which currently does now allow the hiring of people who smoke. The measure which one can call discrimination would exclude smokers from getting city jobs. In addition to this measure, the city is considering […]
The city of South San Francisco which is part of San Mateo County and located on the San Francisco Peninsula has seen the City Council lay the groundwork that would ban smoking in apartments and attached living facilities. The City Council of South San Francisco unanimously approved a measure that directs city staff to draft an ordinance the will come back for a formal approval in January. The ban is proposed to apply to all […]
The Township Committee of Wyckoff, New Jersey has banned smoking in public parking lots, and has prohibited the sale of nicotine products to those under the age of 21. The new ordinance was approved unanimous with a 4-0 vote and 1 absentee. The measure was attended by Special Interest group, “Global Advisors on Smokefree Policy” who pushed for the new measure. The measure supersedes the state tobacco purchase age of 19.
Today, the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Board made changes to the smoking ban in Ohio County by a 4-2 margin with 7 members not doing their job and opting not to attend the vote. Despite a public outcry the Health Board chose to ignore the freedom of its residents and moved forward to ban smoking in public outdoor areas as well as private decks and porches where food is served. They have also included outdoor festivals […]
Yesterday the City Council in Cottage Grove, Oregon voted unanimously to ban tobacco in all city owned parks effective December 9th according to local reports. A member of the Town Council has reached out to The Cigar Authority and has informed us there will be designated areas for smoking. The small town is located 20 miles south of Eugene, Oregon and the Mayor Tom Munroe (Democrat) voted to approve the ban. The measure was approved despite […]