Action on the three anti-smoking items currently in process before the Los Angeles City Council has slowed for the time being:
>> On the Grieg Smith-Dennis Zine motion (no. 08-1544) for the City Attorney to draft an ordinance prohibiting all smoking of tobacco products in "outdoor dining areas," the Arts, Parks, Health & Aging Committee put off voting on the matter for 45 days so that a meeting could be held with the affected industries, notably restauranteurs. That meeting has not been held as yet, although it is anticipated soon.
>> On the Bernard Parks’ motion (no. 08-2123) to have the City Attorney draw up an ordinance to ban smoking essentially everywhere in Los Angeles, no hearings has been held and it has not, as yet, appeared on the calendar of the Arts, Parks, Health & Aging Committee. It’s not likely they will take it up until the outdoor dining area motion has been handled.
>> On the Parks’ resolution (no. 08-002-S5130) that Los Angeles County ban smoking everywhere, the item was referred to the Rules & Government Committee and no hearing on the item has yet been scheduled. The Rules & Government Committee hearing scheduled for Wednesday, September 24 has been cancelled. The next likely meeting date is Wednesday, October 8.
In the meantime, similar measures in Boston and San Francisco are also in the legislative hopper. Hearings in Boston on a measure to ban smoking outdoors will be held on October 8. A San Francisco ordinance similar to the one proposed by Parks was rejected by the County of San Francisco Supervisors and sent back to committee. Among others, a renter’s union was protesting the inclusion of a section that would allow landlords to evict tenants for smoking in common areas!
Comments