Smoke free outdoor public spaces

There is an evolving trend in making outdoor public spaces smoke free.

This is fueled by increasing proof of the dangers of secondhand smoke, discontent over cigarette litter, and an understanding that when tobacco use is less visible in the public landscape, children and teens are less likely to view it as a common part of adult behavior to which they might aspire.

Plus, adults who are trying to quit may be more likely to succeed when they are not tempted by seeing other smokers. Think of how the aroma of baking can pull on you to have a cookie or cinnamon roll! Now imagine that combined with the addictive power of heroin. That is what a smoker can be up against.

Defining smoke free outdoor public spaces

Local municipalities

Tompkins County: Resolution to support T-Free Zones (March 2007)

City of Ithaca: Resolution to support T-Free Zones (October 2007)

College campuses

Cornell University: Policy restricting outdoor smoking near buildings http://www.policy.cornell.edu/CM_Images/Uploads/POL/vol2_3.pdf

Ithaca College: Policy defining designated outdoor smoking areas http://www.ithaca.edu/attorney/policies/vol2/Volume_2-20810.htm

SUNY IT: Policy restricting outdoor smoking http://www.sunyit.edu/environmental_health_safety/smoking.inc

Elsewhere

Broome County, NY: designated play areas, athletic fields and spectator areas in Broome County parks designated as smoke free zones.
Download exerpts of minutes from their County Legislature meetings of April 19 and May 17, 2007 (pdf, 126K).

Watertown, NY: smoke free city playgrounds.
Download exerpts of minutes from their City Council meeting of June 19, 2006 (pdf, 135K).

NYS State Fair: Grandstand
AP news article from Syracuse.com (Apr 8 08) Click Here

Across NYS: smoke free areas have been established in 25 counties, west-to-east, north-to-south.
Go to map and listing

Calabasas, CA: smoke free city.
Download their ordinance, passed in Feb. 2006 (pdf, 79K).
Visit web pages related to their ordinance.

Stanford University School of Medicine: declared a tobacco-free zone, with no smoking allowed anywhere on its campus.
Medical Center Report
Standford News Service story

Town of Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, Canada: Protection from Second-hand Smoke By-law (PDF, 266K)

 

 

Ithaca Common Council committee looks at smoke free city areas

  • Ithaca Journal editorial: "Extending the smoking ban would be good policy" (Dec 26 07)
  • News 10 Now: No smoking in Ithaca Commons? (Dec 18 07)
  • NewsChannel 36 WENY-TV: Smoke free Ithaca? (Dec 18 07)
  • Ithaca Journal: Council to investigate smoking ban on city lands (Dec 17 07)
  • Ithaca Times: A Smoke-Free Ithaca? (Oct 16 07)
  • Ithaca Journal: Ithaca Reconsiders Smoking Ban (Mar 20 08)
  • Ithaca Times: Smoke & Mirrors...A deeper look at the city's proposed smoking bans (Mar 26 08)
  • Ithaca Times editorial: How about a ban on legislating morality? (May 28 08)
  • Ithaca Times Guest Viewpoint: Smoke Free Sustainability (Jun 11 08)

 

Legislation for smoke free outdoor public spaces

Resolution considered by the Environment and Neighborhood Quality Committee of the Ithaca Common Council, July 26, 2007, as part of Comprehensive Measures for Tobacco Free Public Spaces.

The original draft (below) included: restrictions on smoking in specified outdoor public spaces; prohibition on accepting donations from tobacco manufacturers to fund city programs; prohibition on tobacco promotions or vending on city property; support for T-Free Zones; support for voluntary reduction in point-of-sale advertising for tobacco products.

The restrictions on smoking in outdoor public places was split off and is currently under consideration by a subcommittee of the Community and Organizational Issues Committee (C&OI). The subcommittee was formed at the May 20, 2008 C&OI committee meeting, with Eric Rosario appointed as Chair.

The parts of the original text not related to restrictions on smoking were passed by the entire council in a separate resolution on Oct 3, 2007.

Text of Comprehensive Measures for Tobacco Free Public Spaces as offered to the Environment and Neighborhood Quality Committee in July 2007.

1. Purpose

A. To protect the public from know health risks associated with exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke;

B. To foster a community landscape and environment in which the use and promotion of tobacco products becomes increasingly less common, thereby:
(1) Reducing the potential for youth to associate the use of tobacco products with common and normal adult behavior, maturity and style;
(2) Encouraging youth and young adults to make healthy choices, including avoidance of tobacco use;
(3) Supporting cessation attempts by tobacco users with a desire to quit, and increasing the likelihood of their success;

C. To protect public health and enhance city beautification efforts by discouraging behaviors that lead to the litter and pollution associated with the use of cigarettes and smokeless (spit) tobacco;

D. To affirm the intent and findings stated by Common Council upon the creation of the Conservation Advisory Council, “to preserve and improve the quality of the natural and physical environment on behalf of the present and future inhabitants thereof”;

E. To support the Tompkins County Health Department’s T-Free Zone program initiative, and in so doing support city businesses and worksites that participate in the T-Free Zone program

2. Definitions

THE CIRCLE GREENWAY — A walking route around the City of Ithaca that traverses and connects places of great natural beauty, historic interest and unusual urban character. It is a way of providing unstructured recreation for Ithacans within a concept of the city itself as a park.

CEMETERIES — All city-owned burial grounds.

NATURAL AREAS — of the City of Ithaca those areas which are wholly or substantially in a natural and/or undeveloped state, which have significance for ecological and/or recreational reasons, and which are best appreciated and maintained in a natural, relatively undisturbed state (rather than as an active use park).

PARKS AND OPEN SPACES — All city-owned or -managed land that constitutes parks, playgrounds, outdoor passive and active recreation areas (whether paved or unpaved), plazas adjoining buildings, natural areas adjacent to waterways and bike paths. The term "parks and open spaces" does not include the Ithaca Commons.

PUBLIC TRANSIT STOP — Any place designated by a recognized sign or by common practice where individuals may gather over a period of time for the purpose of boarding a public transit vehicle.

SMOKING — The burning of a lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe or any other matter or substance which contains tobacco.

TOBACCO FREE ZONE — A specified area, or the area within 25 feet of a specified place where certain restrictions or expectations may be applied or implied with respect to smoking, the use of smokeless tobacco products, involuntary exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke, and/or involuntary exposure to advertising for tobacco products or solicitation to purchase or use tobacco products.

MOTORCADE, PARADE, PUBLIC GATHERING OR ASSEMBLAGE, SPECIAL EVENT — As defined in City of Ithaca Code, §132-1 and §132-7.

TOBACCO MANUFACTURER — Any business or corporation that produces tobacco products, including but not limited to cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, cigars, pipe tobacco, represented by an employee of that business or corporation, their agent, agency, wholesaler or licensed seller.

SPECIAL TOBACCO PROMOTIONS — In places other than within retail stores licensed to sell tobacco products, the occurrence, intent or cause of any sale of tobacco products; distribution of samples of tobacco products; distribution of merchandise or literature that promotes a tobacco product, brand or manufacturer; distribution of offers made by or on behalf of any tobacco manufacturer including coupons, sweepstakes entries, subscriptions or direct marketing programs.

TOBACCO DONATIONS — Any funds, donations or underwriting in the form of cash, in-kind or planned giving provided as charity or support for goods or services by any Tobacco Manufacturer, excluding any payment made as part of or in connection with a court-ordered settlement, penalty or fine.

3. Smoking Restrictions

A. Smoking is prohibited at or within, and extending 25 feet beyond the following areas and places within the City of Ithaca:
(1) All doorways and docks serving as entrance or exit to city-owned or managed buildings used to conduct city business or serve city employees;
(2) All city-owned or managed Parks and Open Spaces, including playgrounds;
(3) All Cemeteries;
(4) All Natural Areas;
(5) All areas that are part of or designated as the Circle Greenway;
(6) All public transit shelters;
(7) All marked public transit stops;
(8) City property during any motorcade, parade, public gathering or assemblage, or special event;
(9) All City owned or operated housing and residential units.

4. Restrictions on special tobacco promotions

A. Tobacco promotion by tobacco manufacturers is prohibited in the following areas and places:

(1) All city-owned or managed Parks and Open Spaces, including playgrounds;
(2) All Cemeteries;
(3) All Natural Areas;
(4) All areas that are part of or designated as the Circle Greenway;
(5) All public transit shelters;
(6) All marked public transit stops;
(7) City property during any motorcade, parade, public gathering or assemblage, or special event;
(8) All City owned or operated housing and residential units;
(9) The Commons.

5. Restrictions on accepting donations from tobacco manufacturers

A. Tobacco donations are prohibited as a means of support for any of the following:

(1) Programs, commissions or advisory councils that are defined as part of the City Code;
(2) Programs, commissions or advisory councils currently established or which may in the future be established by Common Council;
(3) Programs, commissions or advisory councils currently established or which may in the future be established for The Commons;
(4) Special events on city property.