Smoker or non smoker, everyone likes a clean beach - sand and water. Read below and the full article for Oceanside's recent steps to move in line with other southern California cities to ban smoking on local beaches, parks, and the pier.
"Oceanside gives initial nod to beaches, pier, parks smoking ban By: DAVID STERRETT - Staff Writer
OCEANSIDE -- The City Council decided Wednesday to outlaw smoking at Oceanside's parks, beaches and pier.After hearing 19 people speak in favor of the proposed ban, the council voted 4-1, with Councilman Jerry Kern in dissent, to support a law prohibiting smoking at Oceanside's 32 parks, 3.2 miles of beaches and wooden pier.
"I know this is a controversial issue, but I support the ban," Mayor Jim Wood said.
City staff said the law will return to the council early next month for final approval and, if passed, will go into effect a month later.The law won't apply to golf courses, parking lots or streets near recreation areas, and the pier-side band shell or concrete entry way of the pier.With the law, Oceanside will join more than two dozen California cities that have banned smoking at beaches since late 2003, when Solana Beach became the first city in the continental United States to prohibit smoking at beaches."Please, I implore you not to make Oceanside Southern California's ashtray," said Marty Benson, an Oceanside resident.Representatives of numerous organizations such as the American Heart Association and California's Clean Air Project told the council about the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.Residents also complained to the council about the abundance of cigarette butts littered around the beaches.About 42,000 cigarette butts have been picked up during Oceanside beach cleanups since September 2005, said Daniel Ramirez, a 14-year-old Oceanside resident who said he supported the ban."
OCEANSIDE -- The City Council decided Wednesday to outlaw smoking at Oceanside's parks, beaches and pier.After hearing 19 people speak in favor of the proposed ban, the council voted 4-1, with Councilman Jerry Kern in dissent, to support a law prohibiting smoking at Oceanside's 32 parks, 3.2 miles of beaches and wooden pier.
"I know this is a controversial issue, but I support the ban," Mayor Jim Wood said.
City staff said the law will return to the council early next month for final approval and, if passed, will go into effect a month later.The law won't apply to golf courses, parking lots or streets near recreation areas, and the pier-side band shell or concrete entry way of the pier.With the law, Oceanside will join more than two dozen California cities that have banned smoking at beaches since late 2003, when Solana Beach became the first city in the continental United States to prohibit smoking at beaches."Please, I implore you not to make Oceanside Southern California's ashtray," said Marty Benson, an Oceanside resident.Representatives of numerous organizations such as the American Heart Association and California's Clean Air Project told the council about the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.Residents also complained to the council about the abundance of cigarette butts littered around the beaches.About 42,000 cigarette butts have been picked up during Oceanside beach cleanups since September 2005, said Daniel Ramirez, a 14-year-old Oceanside resident who said he supported the ban."
