Are books next?!? Striped socks?!? Being cool??!? (Image: Michael Guio via Flickr)
Seattle is, again, looking at banning smoking in public parks. And opponents of the proposal are, again, reminding that such a ban is likely to be used as yet another way to harass homeless people without providing solutions for those living outside.
“The proposed new rule would prohibit smoking in all public parks in the city of Seattle,” a statement on the possible ban reads. “This ban would extend the original smoking prohibitions put in place in 2010, which banned ‘smoking, chewing, or other tobacco use…within 25 feet of other park patrons and in play areas, beaches, or playgrounds.'”
What’s the proposed penalty for lighting up in Cal Anderson? “Breaking the rule against smoking would result in a warning, followed by a possible park exclusion for repeated violations,” the parks department statement says. “The rule would not become part of the Seattle Municipal Code.”
A public hearing on the proposal is planned next month:
The Board of Park Commissioners will host a special public hearing on Thursday, April 16, to take comments on a proposed parks-wide smoking ban. The Board of Park Commissioners public hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the Kenneth R. Bounds Board Room at Seattle Parks and Recreation Headquarters, 100 Dexter Ave. N.
The ban — which sounds like a good idea but really isn’t — is supported by Mayor Ed Murray:
Residents of and visitors to our beautiful city deserve to fully enjoy every amenity our parks have to offer, including fresh air and a clean, sustainable environment. We know the dangers of secondhand smoke, particularly for those with asthma and allergies, and we know that cigarette litter is abundant and harmful to our environment, especially for the wildlife that inhabit it. Waste from cigarettes leach arsenic, cadmium, lead and other toxins into our soil and water streams and damage ecosystems. This ban just makes sense for our community. It is the right thing to do for Seattle.
City Council member and parks committee chair Jean Godden supports the ban — but only if it is fairly enforced. “To ensure equitable enforcement, I’ll be reaching out to the Park Board to request that an evaluation be tied to the new rule,” she said in a statement.
So much for our plan for solving the renter’s pot paradox.
Regarding the opponents’ charge that this ban would lead to further “harassment” of the homeless, I say that requiring homeless people to abide by the laws that everyone else must follow is NOT harassment. Yes, a park ban on smoking (which I support) must be applied equitably, but there is no reason why this cannot be done.
Rob, I think the concern that some people may have is that homeless people do not have private spaces where they can go to smoke. Non-homeless smokers can legally smoke in their homes, yards, balconies or other private spaces. However, given our current anti-smoking laws, public parks are some of the only remaining spaces in the city where homeless people are allowed to smoke.
I am a non-smoker. I recognize the serious health risks, hate the smell, and would love to live in a world where tobacco never existed. However, I understand that many people, including homeless people, have the habit and will smoke cigarettes regardless of what I, medical staff, or politicians, think about it. If we pass this legislation we need to acknowledge that many homeless people will break the law and we need to consider both the economic and social impact of actually enforcing the law. Even if the law is neutrally applied, homeless people will be disproportionately impacted because they will have few places left to smoke.
Smokers are stupid. I hate smoking. I hate how smokers feel entitled to toss their cigarette butts and packaging everywhere. I hate waiting for my smoker friends to finish their stupid cigarettes before doing anything. I hate my smoker friends for even asking to light up in my car. I hate when smokers feel it’s OK to blow out their last drag while walking into a store or bar. Smoking is disgusting and tobacco executives and lobbyists should be hung by their toes. But, this new law is just as stupid. It’s just a new form of “stop and frisk.” How about just fining them for littering?
so with the Department of Gridlock and eliminated transportation busy screwing up the city so you can’t GET anywhere, now our Mayor has decided the best priority is to eliminate smoking in public? And he expects to get re-elected?
I”m no fan of smoking (far from it), but nobody enforces the 25-ft rule. Why would they be any more effective enforcing this? How bout we first concentrate on what’s there now, like 25ft rule, bus stops, etc.?
It won’t be part of the city municipal code. It’s completely pointless. I’d like to see how much of our tax dollars have been spent to have all of these people sitting around drumming up this pointless crap. The Parks Dept, the Mayor, the City Council, etc. Those aren’t cheap salaries. All for something that won’t even matter at the end of the day. If people want to smoke in parks, they’re going to do it. Especially if there are no legitimate consequences.
Your tax dollars at work, people.
city council once again going after the hard hitting issues plaguing the city today.
I’m into it. I’ve been going to the park less and less because of cigarette smoke. And I get it, I smoke off and on, I like the occasional cigarette. They’re yummy. But I go outside for fresh air and sun and soft grasses, not smoke. This plus the litter, yes please to the ban.
It should have the same rules as other legal drugs.
Anyone want to acknowledge the elephant in the room? Cars cause more damage to our air quality than cigarettes, where’s the talk of a ban on cars?
A ban on smoking in parks in the name of air quality is rediculous when there are bigger fish to fry.
It is not a fair or accurate comparison. The electric car industry is growing and so is renewable energy. Transportation is necessary while smoking is not and you can smoke in a place where it won’t bother anyone unlike driving to your destination. There is absolutely no reason someone should be exposed to your smoke when you can so easily contain it to your own environment.
As to electric cars: keep dreaming. For the next 10+ years, we will be smoking tailpipes, which is way more harmful to a population than smoking cigarettes. Because our city is literally bathed in car exhaust and thus everybody is exposed to it, as opposed to the relatively few who smoke, be it active or passive.
Not to forget the strongly scented vapors coming out of dryer vents along buildings. These synthetic scents might be just as harmful as smoking and they are certainly annoying.
Given that we are exposed to many environmental pollutants, going after cigarette smoke alone is hypocritical but not surprising since it stems from a society that once invented prohibition but otherwise prides itself to have “freedom”.
I would love to be able to breathe fresh air in our parks, but if we ban smoking, we should also ban cars from Volunteer Park.
Ya, just like the 25 foot rule is enforced. Unlike weed, tobacco is proven to kill yet you can’t smoke weed in public but you can smoke tobacco. Ever since the indoor bans you have to wear a mask when you go out in public because if you don’t you will be breathing tobacco poison. If people want to smoke, fine but keep it out of public and especial away from where people are breathing.
Why do we want people smoking in parks? Even if it’s not enforced, it would be nice to set the precedent that smoking in a public park isn’t good. Smoking in general isn’t good. Remember back when there was a ban on smoking in bars people got all freaked out – but it’s so awesome that we don’t have to put up with all the smoke anymore. It’s bad for everyone’s health, even the homeless. Let’s live longer, less annoying lives.
Can they ban bucket drumming too? It’s been a constant nuisance in Cal Anderson for over a year
Haha. Nice one!
Amplified sound such as boom boxes are not allowed in the parks. Drumming, buckets and otherwise, are just as loud and louder, and should not be allowed in parks, unless it is a permitted event. (Speaking as a resident by Cal Anderson Park who has been subjected to up to seven hours straight of drum circles.)
Nanny city much?
Hey, people, don’t you think our highly paid city employees (1 in 5 city of Seattle workers earns six figures, Seattle Times, 9/17/11) could find something better to do? Good grief.
Last time I gave a homeless guy some money he walked into a smoke shop right after and bought some cigs. I know it’s up to the individual as to how they use their money but it bugs me that I contributed to a costly and unhealthy habit. (He could’ve bought a sandwich or a pair of socks) Keeping people (including the homeless) from smoking in parks sounds good to me. People can smoke all they want but just like with the use of any other substance there should be restrictions as to where you can smoke. I thought the point of a park in urban areas was to have a green recreational space that promoted health and a safe environment anyhow. To me smoke stinks and it makes me cough. I just want to sit out on the grass when it’s sunny and not have to suffer for someone else’s enjoyment. :/
It be nice if the mayor puts more effort into backing programs that helps people get off the streets though. I’m not sure how he thinks the park smoking ban is going to curb the homeless loitering in parks – IMO it’s not going to work.
The Mayor has not said that one of the objectives of a smoking ban is to decrease the numbers of homeless loitering in parks. They will continue to hang out there anyway, and will continue to smoke as they continue to ignore other laws already on the books (camping, panhandling while sitting on the sidewalk, urinating, defecating, littering, etc.).
Just a question. Why are the homeless immune from following any laws? What happens when the homeless harass community residents?
can I still shoot up?
LOL well said!
Yes, of course. This is Seattle and no one in their right mind would think of oppressing you regardless of anything you do.
Yeah! Let’s get this park law enforced so we can all drown in smoke on the sidewalk. What a stupid thing to focus on. This mayor blows.
Stop persecuting smokers.
I think Ed Murray is kicking a**, but these new initiatives to make our city and parks more tourist friendly feel lame and soulless. Tourists can go to Canada if they need manicured cities.
Can’t we cut smokers a break? Outside is where you’re supposed to smoke.
I’m not a smoker and so while I am intrigued by the idea of the ban, I can’t say that I think it’s really needed or actually realistic. I mean, seriously, who is going to enforce such a ban? We can’t even get the police to enforce and crack down on the way more serious shit going down in the city. It would just become another ban on something that you won’t ever get busted for still doing, like smoking pot in public or driving while talking on your cell phone and endangering numerous other lives as you do so.
I think you have the wisest post on this matter and the most accurate.