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Oceanside to consider smoking ban at parks, beaches
By: DAVID STERRETT - Staff Writer | ∞
Jovani Andrade lights up a cigarette while he fishes on the Oceanside Municipal Pier on Monday.
HAYNE PALMOUR IV Staff Photographer
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OCEANSIDE ---- A proposal to ban smoking at Oceanside's parks, beaches and pier will go before the City Council on Wednesday.
The meeting will begin at 5 p.m. at City Hall, 300 North Coast Highway.
The law would prohibit smoking at all beaches, parks and the wooden portion of the pier. But the law wouldn't apply to golf courses, parking lots or public streets near recreation areas, and the pier-side bandshell or the cement entryway of the pier.
City officials said they're bracing for many local residents to sound off either for or against the ban at Wednesday's meeting. Meanwhile, local residents had differing opinions when asked about the proposed law on Monday.
"It's awesome," said Oceanside resident John Lee, who doesn't smoke and had just finished a midday run near the pier. "I hate the smell of smoke, especially at the beach. It will make it healthier for everyone."
Supporters of the ban have said it will reduce harmful secondhand smoke and will limit the number of cigarette butts people throw on the ground. But opponents have argued that secondhand smoke isn't an issue in such large outdoor areas and that there are other ways to reduce the litter.
"It's a horrible idea," said David Jacobson, an Oceanside resident who smokes. "We have a right to smoke, and it doesn't bother anyone when outside."
Solana Beach was the first city in the continental United States to outlaw smoking at beaches when its council unanimously passed a ban in October 2003. About two dozen California cities have followed Solana Beach's lead, including Del Mar, which passed a law in February 2006.
Former Oceanside Councilwoman Shari Mackin proposed last year while she was still in office that the city consider a similar ban, and the city formed an ad hoc committee to study the issue.
The committee sent out 42,000 surveys about the proposed ban with July water bills, and 8,943 people mailed back responses.
More than 75 percent of respondents supported banning smoking at parks, beaches and the pier, according to city officials.
The Oceanside council will make the final decision. The proposed law received a mixed response from several elected officials on Monday.
Mayor Jim Wood said he supported the ban.
"When you're at the beach, the last thing you want is to sit next to someone smoking," Wood said. "It will be healthier for everyone."
Wood said that banning smoking could also reduce the litter on the beaches.
Councilman Jack Feller said that smoking in front of children sets a bad example, but added that the city must decide "if we really feel that outdoor smoking is that serious."
"Stepping on people's rights is probably not the foremost thing on my mind," Feller said. "It sure sounds like bigger government to me."
If the council passed the ban, the city would put up signs and launch a public awareness campaign about the law, according to a city report prepared by staffers.
The report estimates it would cost about $20,000 for the signs and outreach efforts plus any maintenance costs.
Police and code enforcement officers would be able to ticket violators of the law, but the report states that most of the enforcement would be self-policing by residents and deterrence through signs.
Jan Zacarias, who was enjoying a cigarette on the beach near the pier on Monday, said she wouldn't have any problem moving up to the street or parking lot to smoke if the city passed the law.
"It's a good idea because of all the cigarette butts people leave on the ground," said Zacarias, who lives in Hemet.
Other residents said the law wouldn't change their behavior.
Smoker Gabe Ruiz said that even though alcohol is banned at the beach, many people bring beer cans to the beach.
"The law won't make a difference," Ruiz said. "It's relaxing to smoke at the beach."
Contact staff writer David Sterrett at (760) 901-4067 or dsterrett@nctimes.com.
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Stealth Blogger wrote on Apr 17, 2007 4:25 AM:Let's create a non-existent problem, like smoking at beaches! Let's ban it!! Then we will feel better about failing to address real problems, like gangs!!!
local wrote on Apr 17, 2007 6:12 AM:I thought they already did this--approved it that is. I hope the council supports the proposal. Thanks Shari Mackin, we miss you and your good ideas. I heard this Feller guy is running for mayor! Sad day in Oceanside if that ever happens.
blm wrote on Apr 17, 2007 6:23 AM:I was surprised by the statement "We have a right to smoke, and it doesn't bother anyone when outside." Would it be my right to stand upwind at the beach and use my lighter to ignite cylinders of styrofoam and produce dense clouds of noxious toxic plastic smoke and then declare it doesn't bother anyone (because it doesn't bother me and I find it relaxing?) Public behavior should be moderated by the impact it has on those around you: you can do as you wish as long as you're not harming or imposing your wishes on others; not playing your radio too loud, not leaving your fast food packaging and cigarette butts on the ground, not leaving your baby's dirty diapers on the sand. You would think that would be common sense and common courtesy, but the evidence at the beach is that a large portion of the population appears to lack these traits. So, yes, asking the government to enforce courtesy begins to seem like the only approach.
Smokers suck wrote on Apr 17, 2007 6:36 AM:Good it’s a start, because I hate smelly cigarettes. Let’s just take it one step at a time, next BAN them from everywhere!
Stealth Blogger wrote on Apr 17, 2007 7:15 AM:We elect leaders to protect our freedoms, not to restrict them. Why not address gridlock? Gangs? Crime? Drugs? Excessive water and sewer rates? Cell phone related auto accidents? Because it's easier to demonize some unpopular behavior and ban it! Ah, now we feel oh so superior!! And it doesn't cost one cent!!! This council has lost all vestiges of good old-fashioned common sense!!!!
Coastal Girl wrote on Apr 17, 2007 9:32 AM:I have an absolute right to NOT have smoke going into my lungs. Ban smoking in every public place and put the smokers in a confined area to smoke. If they want to kill themselves with smoke, I don't have much of a problem with it. But I have asthma and should not have to be exposed to their smoke, period. The City residents have spoken. We don't want it. We also don't need hundreds of thousands of cigarette butts on our beaches. It's gross and embarassing when you bring people to the beach! Yuk!
Osider wrote on Apr 17, 2007 12:26 PM:I am all for banning smoking at our beaches. It is a disgusting habit and they leave their butts every where. Dont infringe on my right to breath clean healthy air at the beach!
Finally wrote on Apr 17, 2007 12:47 PM:I can now be able to take out a cigarette from my friends mouth and say no smoking (insert derogatory term). I'm tired of not being able to do anything because I don't feel like getting lung cancer from someone else's smoke. This is a good idea and I hope they make more of it to ban smoking entirely though would lose a chunk of change from the taxes they have on it. I'd love to get rid of smoking entirely but those companies too pay a portion of taxes so could it really be smart to ban it entirely? Unless you sell them elsewhere and have it be some other state or nation's problem, I'm all for that.
Old Lady who likes the beach wrote on Apr 17, 2007 2:01 PM:So I am supposed to run through a gauntlet of smoke to get to the pier and the beach? What do-do head thought this up? Ban smoking at the beach, the pier, the parks, the entries to these places and for heaven's sake, NO SMOKING in the Bandshell! That's gross.
What, no Chamber posting? wrote on Apr 17, 2007 2:02 PM:I thought for sure the Chamber of commerce would support the ban since they value our beaches so much. Doesn't the head of the chamber ever visit the beach? The butts all over the beach and at the shoreline are disgusting. Chamber says 'no' to smoking at our beaches and parks?
to "Stealth Blogger" wrote on Apr 17, 2007 3:10 PM:Who's "freedoms" are you concerned with here? Smoking on the beach or in any public place is not a right. Smoking leads to too many health and pollution issues which we all pay for, either out of our pocket or well-being. More power to the "demonizers."
Smokers wrote on Apr 17, 2007 4:36 PM:There is a reason that your car has a built-in ash tray! Start using it and stop using the streets and beaches as your waste bins. Ban the smoking!
yeah! wrote on Apr 17, 2007 7:28 PM:Lets ban automobiles too. Those darn things exuding that smelly smoke out of the exhaust pipes makes me sick! Why should I have to breathe exhaust, I have rights! Lets all ride bikes, not smoke and be healthy. cars are so yukkkky!
Finally wrote on Apr 18, 2007 1:30 PM:This is great, I can't tolerate the smoke coming from Bonfires and Firepits on the Beaches in California. Finally a ban on Smoke - it can't happen any sooner. Wood smoke is more harmful than cigarette smoke and is a great irritant to me and absolutely attacks my system more. Thank you City Officials for banning all forms of smoke. Bonfire Ban- YES I'm doing a Happy Dance!!!!!!!!!!!
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