Smoke Free NYC?

You know, maybe it was my powerful gift for self-delusion, but I really thought that Mayor Michael Bloomberg's war on cigarettes was one of those weird, but ultimately harmless, obsessions that occasionally consume politicos -- like Jimmy Carter and thermostats or Ed Meese and porn -- and make a big, scary stink and then fade away.

Not so, Mr. Bloomberg's kink.

The freakin' City Council voted to approve Bloomberg's ban on workplace smoking by a 42-7 margin. As a result, most bars and restaurants in New York City will be smoke free by spring.

This fade-out is gonna be awhile.

Comments

[JtD]

This is a perfect example of the tyranny, by degrees, of liberalism. It started with people complaining about the worker next to them, then separated areas in restaraunts, now NO SMOKING. Some towns have banned smoking completely within their limits. Personal choice and responsibilty are forbidden, save the sacred cow of abortion.

The nanny state of mind is running amok. Sue Big Tobacco. Sue Fast Foods.

My government, my governement, save me from myself!

[andrea]

Wow, that's pretty freaky.

I'm an ex-smoker, and I support the notion that some public areas should be smoke free (within office buildings, air-conditioned shopping malls, hospitals, I supported it when I was a smoker, too), but bars and pubs? Now that's just silly.

[Mark S.]

Remind me never to vist New York City.... ever.

[Glen]

You can be sure that on my trips the NYC area I'll be staying in NJ.

[Patricia]

I think smoking in public places should be banned. If someone needs a cigerette bad enough to smoke in a restaraunt, they should have to go outside. That's a bad habbit they chose and it's not for other people to have to suffer the consequences of that person's bad choice. Smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer and second hand smoke is more fatal then having that nasty "cancer stick" in your mouth. people have freedom of choice. I choose not to smoke and those who choose to smoke should have enough consideration and respect for the people who don't want to die from cancer caused by a person who didn't have the decency to spare others their health

[Patricia]

I think smoking in public places should be banned. If someone needs a cigerette bad enough to smoke in a restaraunt, they should have to go outside. That's a bad habbit they chose and it's not for other people to have to suffer the consequences of that person's bad choice. Smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer and second hand smoke is more fatal then having that nasty "cancer stick" in your mouth. people have freedom of choice. I choose not to smoke and those who choose to smoke should have enough consideration and respect for the people who don't want to die from cancer caused by a person who didn't have the decency to spare others their health