SANTA MONICA, October 11, 2006 - The Santa Monica City Council gave initial approval Tuesday night to a proposal to ban smoking at all outdoor restaurants, service areas, the Third Street Promenade and Farmers Markets.

The City Council voted 6-0 in favor of the proposed ordinance. A second vote will be needed for the ordinance to become law.

"All available evidence indicated, from other cities and other countries, that smoking regulations almost across the board tend to, if anything, increase business and popularity of a location," said Deputy City Attorney Adam Radinsky.

"We're not aware of any evidence ... indicating that restricting smoking is bad for business," Radinsky said.

The proposed ordinance would ban smoking on restaurant patios, bus stops, around automated teller machines and movie theater lines, and also mandate a 20-foot smoke-free zone around non-governmental buildings.

The City Council voted 5-1 July 25 to direct the City Attorney's Office to draft an ordinance that would extend the city's smoking ban, which already prohibits smoking in public parks, beaches, public waiting areas and the Pier.

Source: ABC7



"We're not aware of any evidence ... indicating that restricting smoking is bad for business," Radinsky said.

There are two reasons why people choose to sit on restaurant/cafe patios, especially in a place like Santa Monica.

One, because they just simply want to enjoy the sun, the breezy air, and the view.
Two, because they want to enjoy all of the above while they're smoking!

I understand if they want to ban smoking in those other places like ATMs and movie theater lines because I don't like it either, and I'm not denying that smoking is bad for your and those second hand smokers' health.
But isn't that the reason why they provide patios or any kind of outside sitting? So that we, you and I, the smokers, won't bother those who do not smoke?

They're wrong if they think it would not affect the businesses in any way because I know for sure that those smokers will go hang out in other places, where smoking is allowed.
Besides, I know more people who smoke than who don't. Not to mention, the celebrities, as if smoking is a must.

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