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BOBBY D'S BLOG

by bdecastro from West LA

Last Post 183 days, 19 hours Ago


Big Brother says No smoking?
Apr 9, 2008 | 12:57 PM
Category: News
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Hey Gang,

I don't know if you've heard, but the city of Pasadena is considering an ordinance that would ban smoking at outdoor dining and shopping areas.  They take up the issue next month.  It might also mean you can't smoke while in line at a movie theater, bus stop, or ATM.  Heck... they even say you might not even be able to smoke at the Rose Parade.

I was living in New York when the city passed its smoking ban.  I have to say in the beginning I was against it.  I've always been a non-smoker, but never seemed to be bothered by second-hand smoke.  I always thought smoky bars were just a part of gritty New York City.  And I could never understand all of those servers and bartenders who complained about working in that kind of environment.  Why not work somewhere else?

There wasn't as many people leading a revolt against the ban as I thought there would be.  And after a short while, everyone kind of got used it.  Even I was pleasantly surprised to come home after a night out and not wince in disgust at my smoky clothing.

But does an OUTDOOR smoking ban go too far? There's even talk of making the ordinance even stricter... making it illegal to smoke on sidewalks and golf courses.  Do you think smokers should have some rights too and a place to do as they choose? Or is it the smokers who are encroaching on non-smokers' environments?

See you soon....

bobbyd

 

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Member Comments Total Comments: 11
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samo714 read my blog view my photos
Apr 10, 2008 | 9:24 AM

tough call bobby. like you, it doesnt bother me when someone smokes around me. it does seem like smokers have less areas to smoke. seems like the only place they can do it now is at home, which is sad. but then again, it's nice to know that this might help many to quit, or prevent them from smoking as many as they might of before.
ddain read my blog view my photos
Apr 10, 2008 | 2:03 PM

Well smoking has been banned at outdoor stadiums for a long time, and it seems that people have gotten over it (I can't recall the last time I saw anyone light up at Dodger Stadium when there was a game going on). I think after a while smokers will realize that a lot of people simply don't want to be around the smoke since it's so unhealthy and they'll accept it. They have long accepted paying huge gobs of taxes on cigarettes and they still buy them.
1olgrama read my blog
Apr 10, 2008 | 8:14 PM

O.K. yeah, being an old fogey I definitely feel picked on...being a smoker. I consider myself a considerate smoker, I have never tossed a butt out the window, I always have a device I can put the butts in-so I never litter and I don't light up around a crowd-BUT come on, we can't smoke out in the open? Talk about feeling like a second class citizen, they have done it to us! Yes, I know the hazards, but how many of you grew up as I did with both parents smoking in the house, on road trips ( with the windows rolled up) at every family gathering all the adults smoked! Maybe it's good genes or something but no one in our family has been affected by smoke as of yet and we range in age from 92 down to 6 years of age. I can still beat my 45 and 37 yrs. old kids in a 10K and would love to try something bigger! I'm really tired of being looked at as criminal for my vice. Where do you stand on this, my land???
craftyguy read my blog
Apr 11, 2008 | 9:16 PM

Ive quit smoking many times..its a horrible habit ..but in reality how do we OK abortion and even assisted suicide yet say someone cant smoke ?i loved smoking ..I'm not offended by people smoking in front of me that's their choice ,,stop all the restrictions and let people live ..stress will kill before smoking anyway
DMMickie read my blog view my photos
Apr 12, 2008 | 9:00 PM

Assisted suicide and abortion? That is a stretch. I am Ok with not smoking in bars and other indoor areas. But these bans are getting more and more strict. What the no-smoking lobby eventually wants is a total ban on cigarettes. I am tired of all these restrictions on personal liberties. Enough already. Designate smoking areas and leave the smokers alone. They are nice people.
donnie53 read my blog
Apr 14, 2008 | 9:35 AM

I believ smoker's have rights just like everyone else, me myself I have been smoking for over 40 years. I do not smoke around people that do not smoke unless I am in my own home, they are going to far with this non-smoking city's, I understand everyone has rights so what happened to the smoker's rights. I have gotten dirty looks for smoking while walking down the street. if you do not want to be around smoke STAY AWAY FROM THE PLACES WHERE THEY DO ALLOW SMOKING.SMOKING IS A CHOICE I MADE JUST LIKE PEOPLE MAKE A CHOICE TO STOP SMOKING. What's next, if a purchase a new home you cant smoke, cause you the people who do not smoke says so.GIVE ME A BREAK PLEASE
donnie53 read my blog
Apr 14, 2008 | 9:35 AM

I believ smoker's have rights just like everyone else, me myself I have been smoking for over 40 years. I do not smoke around people that do not smoke unless I am in my own home, they are going to far with this non-smoking city's, I understand everyone has rights so what happened to the smoker's rights. I have gotten dirty looks for smoking while walking down the street. if you do not want to be around smoke STAY AWAY FROM THE PLACES WHERE THEY DO ALLOW SMOKING.SMOKING IS A CHOICE I MADE JUST LIKE PEOPLE MAKE A CHOICE TO STOP SMOKING. What's next, if a purchase a new home you cant smoke, cause you the people who do not smoke says so.GIVE ME A BREAK PLEASE
This_Aint_Your_Land read my blog view my photos
Apr 16, 2008 | 6:43 AM

I don't know if you've heard, but the city of Pasadena is considering an ordinance that would ban smoking at outdoor dining and shopping areas.

______________________________________________

I guess that's what we get, for allowing a liberal nanny government to impede on every aspect of our lives. Now there's a ban on Silly String, soon a ban on mylar balloon, Coca Cola in school vending machines, the list goes on and on.

And if you try to end it all by killing yourself, that's illegal too.
DMMickie read my blog view my photos
Apr 16, 2008 | 1:00 PM

This Ain't: Being liberal or conservative has nothing to do with this. It is the healthy fanatics that are pushing this. You politicize everything.
This_Aint_Your_Land read my blog view my photos
Apr 16, 2008 | 9:11 PM

Let's put it this way. I don't smoke, never have, never will. It's dangerous to you and to those around you. And government should stay out of your personal life. That's a conservative point of view. Less government interfering in your life. And if you'll look at the nanny's who come up with these laws you'll see that they're all liberals with way too much time on their hands.

For the record I don't agree with seat belt laws or helmet laws either (and I use both). If you want to kill yourself you should be free to do so.
DMMickie read my blog view my photos
Apr 28, 2008 | 10:32 AM

Rubbish. How would you know? Are you personal friends with people in the anti smoking lobby? More than likely they are right wingers again trying to control people and tell them how to live their lives. THAT is conservative. "Be like me or else"
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bdecastro

Bob DeCastro joined the Fox 11 Morning News and Good Day LA in May 2004. He came to Los Angeles from our sister station in New York city where he worked for more than 3 years. While in the Big Apple, Bob covered a number of high-profile stories. He reported live from Ground Zero immediately after the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center. He also covered the Anthrax Scare, the crash of American Airlines Flight 587, the Washington D.C. Area Sniper shootings, and the Space Shuttle Tragedy in Texas. Before moving to New York, Bob was an anchor and reporter in several television markets on the West Coast. He made stops in Las Vegas, Reno, and Chico California. Television is Bob's second career. He traveled all over the world when he was a Lieutenant on a US Navy Destroyer based in San Diego. He was deployed to the Pacific, South Pacific, Mediterranean and Persian Gulf Regions. Bob grew up in South Carolina and graduated from Boston University.

Member Since: 3/13/2007


 

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