10:30am | A bill that would ban smoking at public California beaches and parks continues to move forward, and could soon become the first bill of its kind in the nation. The California Assembly passed the bill, introduced by Senator Jenny Oropeza (D-Long Beach), on Monday and will soon head to the State Senate and then the Governor for final approval.
The State Senate already approved the bill, but must agree to amendments made by the Assembly this week.
While the bill has fostered jokes from some publications, it has received glowing reviews from others. The news blog Gawker.com ran with the headline “California Smokers Confined To Parking Lots” while the Los Angeles Times today writes a celebratory editorial about the bill.
It has the potential to help protect the environment, preserve the tourism value of the state’s recreational properties and save money on trash removal and firefighting. That’s a lot of payback for a relatively moderate curb on the freedom to smoke.”
Long Beach last year fought a very public battle in the City Council to ban smoking in all public places, eventually relenting to allow indoor smoking within cigar shops. Many residents took exception to that ruling, arguing that it encroached on their personal freedoms. But Oropeza’s bill is gaining steam (sorry) largely because it is seen as a measure of keeping the natural environment clean.