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City advances scaled-back restrictions: smoking in parks  

Milpitas City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to introduce an ordinance amending the city's municipal code to enforce a total ban on tobacco smoking in all City of Milpitas parks.

The ban amends prior city laws restricting smoking near city-owned buildings and keeping smokers a distance of 25 feet from city playgrounds.

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Local governments will be nudged to go smoke-free in parks and some other public places  

Smoking is allowed at parks in Aberdeen, but a new federal grant will urge local officials to reconsider the policy.

Public health divisions across Grays Harbor, Thurston and Lewis counties have received a federal grant to push to create smoke-free environments in city parks, on library grounds and government campuses.

Grays Harbor is the lead entity for the $292,000 grant that will be partially split with Thurston and Lewis counties. Mason and Pacific counties may also qualify for the next round of Community Transformation Grants, which is spearheaded by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.

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San Marcos council bans alcohol, tobacco in city parks  

• C'tee bans smoking in some outdoor areas  

The Israel Cancer Association both congratulated MKs on Wednesday for increasing the types of places where smoking will be prohibited, and expressed disappointment that the legislation had been watered down.

The amendment to no-smoking laws, approved by the Knesset’s Labor, Social Affairs and Health Committee and implemented by order, makes it illegal to light up cigarettes and other tobacco products at outdoor performances; within 10 meters of entrances to hospitals and clinics; or in bus and train stations, swimming pools, indoor stadiums, outdoor wedding locations, swimming pools, public shelters; and in other outdoor locations.

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Arlington Smoking Ordinance May Change  

LETTER: Outdoor smoking affects other people 

The editorial on smoking says nonsmokers should learn to relax and stop telling other people what to do with their health. What the editorial fails to take into account is the effect of cigarette smoke on my health as a non-smoker.

I have severe asthma, and cigarette smoke is one of my triggers. Last summer, I attempted to go to a few events in public parks.

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• Government Bans Smoking at Western Wall  

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Smoking to be banned at bus stops, outdoor concerts 

LETTER: SMOKING: Ban could start firestorm 

N.Y.'s smoking ban faces challenge from smokers' rights advocacy group 

A smokers' rights group is objecting to a new rule that will prohibit smokers from using New York state's parks, pool areas and beaches and historic sites as ash trays.

The anti-smoking rule created in April by the state parks department would result in a disorderly conduct violation for smokers who puff away in banned areas.

Smoking will be allowed in some areas. Signs telling park visitors of the new rule have been posted.

"These bans were imposed by bureaucratic fiat, not legislated law," says Audrey Silk, founder of CLASH, which supports smokers' rights nationwide.

"On that basis alone, they're unconstitutional." She said the rule "in fact went against the Legislature's will."

Dan Keefe, a spokesman for the parks department, said the authority to create the measure comes from the Legislature.

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• Majority supports expansion of anti-smoking law 

The vast majority of Israelis support the enforcement of smoking prohibitions both indoors and outdoors, according to a study by Dr. Leah Rosen, a Tel Aviv University researcher who studies smoking and its prevention.

On Wednesday morning, the Knesset Labor, Social Affairs and Health Committee will discuss government proposals to amend no-smoking laws so that using tobacco products will be illegal at outdoor performances, bus and train stations, swimming pools, stadiums, entrances to hospitals and clinics and other outdoor locations. Additionally, areas where smoking is still allowed will have to be designated as so.

Rosen, who works at the university’s School for Public Health in the Sackler Medical Faculty, studied the views of 505 Israeli men and women comprising a representative sample of the country.

The TAU research was published in the journal Health Policy. In addition, the university’s School for Public Health will hold a conference on June 13 on the medical and economic effects of smoking and public policy.

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• Knesset Creates New No-Smoking Zones 

The Knesset's Health Committee has approved a wide-reaching addition to a law banning smoking in public places. The new protocol will ban smoking at public performances, swimming pools, inside roofed bus stops, and at train stations and central bus stations, with the exception of marked smoking areas. Bus drivers will not be allowed to smoke inside their vehicles before picking up passengers.

In addition, smoking will be prohibited within 10 meters of clinics and hospitals. In buildings where smoking is prohibited, smoking zones will not be allowed in stairwells or passageways.

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• Majority supports expansion of anti-smoking law  

The vast majority of Israelis support the enforcement of smoking prohibitions both indoors and outdoors, according to a study by Dr. Leah Rosen, a Tel Aviv University researcher who studies smoking and its prevention.

On Wednesday morning, the Knesset Labor, Social Affairs and Health Committee will discuss government proposals to amend no-smoking laws so that using tobacco products will be illegal at outdoor performances, bus and train stations, swimming pools, stadiums, entrances to hospitals and clinics and other outdoor locations. Additionally, areas where smoking is still allowed will have to be designated as so.

Rosen, who works at the university’s School for Public Health in the Sackler Medical Faculty, studied the views of 505 Israeli men and women comprising a representative sample of the country.

Asked to comment on the proposals to be discussed in the committee, Israel Council for the Prevention of Smoking head Amos Hausner told The Jerusalem Post that “basically, those were the recommendations of the Gamzu Committee headed by Health Ministry director-general Prof. Ronni Gamzu.”

While he welcomed the addition of places to the list of prohibited places, Hausner added, “The problem is that after the recommendations the ministry made, many compromises were made.”

“The bill was watered down significantly, even though the original recommendation was modest to start with according to international standards,” he continued.

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Smoking ban reprieve for nine restaurants 

WATERVILLE No-smoking ban at playgrounds lauded