Second in a series
Re “Who Is Behind Coming Smoking Ban? A Few Names Surface”
[img]1305|right|Andy Weissman||no_popup[/img]City Councilman Andy Weissman was asked if the approaching smoking ban in multi-unit residences gave him pause. He paused to reflect.
“No, it doesn’t give me pause,” said the man who has been referred to as the most introspective and thoughtful member of the City Council. “We have a responsibility to look to protect the health and safety of residents. The prohibition on smoking is responsible and protective.
“The public discussion was across the board – landlords, apartment owners association, public health advocates – all had less to do with the ordinance, the prohibition, and everything to do with enforcement.”
Now the chatter becomes juicy.
1. If City Hall lacks the manpower and womanpower to track small retailers and see if they are obeying the ballyhooed partial ban on plastic bags, how will the city fathers satisfactorily spy on Culver City residents in their homes?
2. Will they crawl inside walls, leap out into living rooms, bedrooms, demanding to taste the sometimes stinky breaths of certain suspects to see if they have been smoking within the formerly private confines?
3. During what hours do residents show the most darning proclivity for tasting the weed?
4. Night-time?
5. Daytime?
6. Does breath taste differently when you smoke at work and when you smoke at home?
7. Will the nicotine police cause City Manager John Nachbar to hire round-the-clock spies?
8. Will non-smoking family members be arrested as enablers?
9. What about bachelors and bachelorettes?
10. Are they less culpable because fewer people are exposed?
11. Will they draw softer sentences because their dangerous smoke rings aren’t affecting anyone else?
12. Will second-hand smoke victims, cough, cough, more than two floors distant be able to claim impaired health?
13. Will the punishments vary for smoking filtered and unfiltered cigarettes?
14. In poor families, if a cigarette is passed around the room, will all puffers be subject to arrest?
15. Will Mr. Nachbar hire occasional smokers to join his tobacco cops corps?
16. Is there any chance the potential ordinance will go up in smoke?
(To be continued)
