El Cajon Update
La Mesa will consider stricter ban on smoking
August 16, 2007
LA MESA: On the heels of a tough new smoking ban in neighboring El Cajon, La Mesa officials want to look at further restricting smoking there.
La Mesa already prohibits smoking at its parks, but City Councilman Ernie Ewin suggested the council look at banning smoking where food is served or where children are present.
La Mesa already prohibits smoking at its parks, but City Councilman Ernie Ewin suggested the council look at banning smoking where food is served or where children are present.
At its meeting Tuesday, the council referred the issue to the La Mesa Wellness Task Force, which will meet with business organizations and advocacy groups for input, Ewin said. The task force will report to the council later.
Ewin said yesterday he’d rather see smokers police themselves than have the city enact a law.
El Cajon just approved the most stringent smoking rules in the county, banning the practice in all places nonsmokers are likely to be. El Cajon’s law takes effect Sept. 13.
SD Smoking Ban
EL CAJON (CNS) – The El Cajon City Council today will consider codifying a law that would prohibit smoking in most public places.
The City Council passed the ordinance unanimously on its first reading late last month. A second reading is required for the law to take effect.
Council members said it is needed to protect the public from second-hand smoke, which the state has declared a toxin.
El Cajon has led the charge against smoking in San Diego County, becoming the first city to outlaw smoking in parks. It also requires businesses that sell tobacco to get a city license.
Under the ordinance, smoking on a city sidewalk would be forbidden.
Smoking outside office buildings, however, would be permitted, as long as smokers are in a designated area away from non-smokers.
The ordinance is scheduled to take effect Sept. 13. Fines could be as high as $500.
CNS-08-14-2007 03:19
EL CAJON (CNS) – The El Cajon City Council today will consider codifying a law that would prohibit smoking in most public places.
The City Council passed the ordinance unanimously on its first reading late last month. A second reading is required for the law to take effect.
Council members said it is needed to protect the public from second-hand smoke, which the state has declared a toxin.
El Cajon has led the charge against smoking in San Diego County, becoming the first city to outlaw smoking in parks. It also requires businesses that sell tobacco to get a city license.
Under the ordinance, smoking on a city sidewalk would be forbidden.
Smoking outside office buildings, however, would be permitted, as long as smokers are in a designated area away from non-smokers.
The ordinance is scheduled to take effect Sept. 13. Fines could be as high as $500.
CNS-08-14-2007 03:19
Council approves strict public smoking ban
July 25, 2007?
Greg Moberly
EL CAJON: The City Council voted 4-0 last night to ban smoking in all public places where nonsmokers are likely to be, with some exceptions.
Councilwoman Jillian Hanson-Cox was absent.?
The new rules will be the strictest in the county. They take effect Sept. 13, 30 days after second reading, which is Aug. 14.
The El Cajon law prohibits smoking at outdoor restaurants, outside the courthouse or while walking down a crowded street. People still will be allowed to smoke in homes, backyards and patios, unless they are in an apartment or condominium complex where the patio is less than 21 feet from a common area, such as a pool or laundry room.
The law is based on one adopted in Calabasas 1? years ago. – L.N.
July 25, 2007?
Greg Moberly
EL CAJON: The City Council voted 4-0 last night to ban smoking in all public places where nonsmokers are likely to be, with some exceptions.
Councilwoman Jillian Hanson-Cox was absent.?
The new rules will be the strictest in the county. They take effect Sept. 13, 30 days after second reading, which is Aug. 14.
The El Cajon law prohibits smoking at outdoor restaurants, outside the courthouse or while walking down a crowded street. People still will be allowed to smoke in homes, backyards and patios, unless they are in an apartment or condominium complex where the patio is less than 21 feet from a common area, such as a pool or laundry room.
The law is based on one adopted in Calabasas 1? years ago. – L.N.
County’s Toughest Smoking Ban Proposed
July 19, 2007??
The city’s plan is generating controversy because it would make it virtually impossible to light up anywhere. The measure would ban smoking in most outdoor areas, including public streets and in areas now designated for outdoor smoking.
The city’s plan is generating controversy because it would make it virtually impossible to light up anywhere. The measure would ban smoking in most outdoor areas, including public streets and in areas now designated for outdoor smoking.
Wil Riley is a smoker and he said he is aware many people don’t like his habit. But he said he essentially asks for permission before smoking in public.
“I’m cordial with them. I usually ask before I light up if I’m in a public area, or forum and if it’s going to bother somebody. I’ll walk out where it’s not going to bother them,” Riley said.
Gary Kendrick, the city councilman who supports the measure said it’s a public health issue. Kendrick said his sister, a non-smoker, died of lung cancer.
“Most smokers are very respectful of non-smokers’ rights and don’t smoke near non-smokers. There’s only a small percent of smokers that are creating the problem,” Kendrick said.
The councilman said those smokers are the targets of his proposed law, which the Lung Association said would be the toughest anti-smoking measure in the county.
One non-smoker said the proposal goes too far.
“I don’t like cigarette smoke either, but I just feel our laws and our society is founded on something that would be unconstitutional.”
Other local cities have refused to take their smoking bans as far as El Cajon is proposing. In Del Mar, considered to be health-conscious, voters rejected a similar ban.
The El Cajon City Council has scheduled a public hearing for Tuesday night, to discuss this proposed ban on public smoking.
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