On Monday, the Albert Lea, Minnesota City Council voted 4-3 to ban smoking and all tobacco products in city-owned parks. Violation of the new ordinance will be a petty misdemeanor.
The troubling quote from the meeting comes from Erin Simmons of the American Lung Association who smoke for the ban stated, “What we permit, we promote.” Which to me reminds me a bit of communism and not the democracy my grandfather fought for in World War II.
Those who voted against the ban, but were ultimately outnumbered felt the ban was going against personal freedom.
Albert Lea, MN is home to 18,000 residents over 14.42 square miles and was settled in 1855.
