The Observation Deck

David Anderson wrote:In fact, Council’s committee of the whole met for three hours this morning to discuss priorities, vision and other matters.

Yours in service,

David W. Anderson
Councilman, Ward 1
216-789-6463

David

For what it is worth...

I do not believe any of us actually thought that the only thing council was doing was
debating the merits of smoking in parks, and twiddling their thumbs.

And it is good to know that the council met for three hours Saturday morning.(?)

Can't wait to hear those ideas, and visions, but for now, all we know is what we have
been told.




.

I would support a restriction against smoking on PLAYGROUNDS, but not against it in parks in general. I would also support a ban on smoking in your own car if there are minors in that car.

I'd also support all enforcement against all LITTERING, including throwing cigarette butts on the ground, even though many people do it without thinking, as if that's simply what you do. It's time for people to start thinking about it, and to stop doing it.

Beyond these things, I support civility: if someone asks you out in the street or a park to please put out your cigarette because it's bothering him/her, you ought to without question. But we're not yet at the point where the person who won't should be guilty of a crime. It may come to that, at some future point.

I am a smoker.

Maybe in playgrounds. Anything else is just overkill. If they're going to go that far, why don't they ban all the unhealthy foods in stores and fast food restaurants, and they might as well make air, water, and soil illegal. We are exposed to toxins and carcinogens that we'd prefer to avoid every day but have no choice in the matter. A good example of laws and changes made to control what consumers choose to do with their own bodies is an attempt to force people to make "healthier" choices in the hospitals. I noticed they put diet sodas and juices containing Stevia in vending machines. Those synthetic sugars should be considered a danger to health as well. People with neurological problems and small children shouldn't be exposed to them, and there is no real proof that Stevia is safe. They aren't even sure how much of it we can consume before it becomes toxic. It makes absolutely no sense to try to control what people consume, when they are replacing it with alternatives that could be just as, if not more dangerous.

Oh yeah, and mandatory smoking in bars, even dogs.