New York Snuffs Out Smoking (parks, time square Ban Passed)

[cacooper]

Greetings,
I've been to NYC exactly once, and after that one visit, I had absolutely no desire to ever return. This latest move by Bloomberg just cements my decision.
I had a reasonably good time during my visit. Stopped by DeLaConcha, spent some time at Nat Sherman, and made the obligatory trip to the Empire State Building. I enjoyed an excellent Italian dinner.
I grew up in So. California, in the L.A. area. Over the years, I had been to downtown L.A. dozens of times. Frankly, I've had my fill of big, dirty, smelly, overcrowded cities, and NYC was no different. Chicago is the same way. Even parts of downtown Denver. Phoenix, actually, isn't so bad.
I've met a lot of native New Yorkers that rave on and on about how wonderful New York City is. How everything you need is there. The excitement, the nightlife. The "vibe", if you will.
Honestly, I just don't understand. Give me the wide open spaces, endless views, majestic mountains, and tranquil deserts.
No offense intended to those who love the "Big City".
CACooper

 

[fred]

I've just had a thought... With the defiant character of most of the

denizens of NYC, for which they are famous, I can see them organizing a

spit-in, comprised of hoards of citizens working on a chaw of baccy...

 

[cornguy]

Picture this:

An elderly man, smoking his pipe, walks leisurely through the park while his little granddaughter walks beside him, hand-in-hand, looking at the trees and the flowers on a warm spring day. The stuff memories are made of.

How this can this be wrong in any city in any country in the world?

Things are upside down.

Yes, my grandfather smoked a pipe.

 

[collin]

I just emailed the City Council and told them that as a frequent visitor/tourist, if New York City decides that I cannot smoke a sweet smelling pipe while strolling in the fresh air, air that New York City does not own,...I nor my family will ever be back for another visit.
I did all I can do.

 

[lordnoble]

I understand that "Liberal" politicians were most likely at fault for this insane legislation, but to gather all of us up into one bag and say that you "REALLY HATE FUCKING LIBERALS" would be like me gathering the "Conserative" base and say that they are all jerks stuck in the past. It's not true and statements like the one I put up do NOTHING to forward rational discussion. It also really pisses off people who have no problem with smoking in parks, on beaches, on sidewalks, etc. Not to start a flame-war here, but to paint ALL "Liberals" with the a$$hole brush is a bit extreme. I will accept, "I REALLY HATE THE F#CKING LIBERALS ON THE NYC CITY COUNCIL WHO PASSED THIS STUPID LEGISLATION!" Hell, I'll chime in. But please, understand that just because I smoke a pipe and find this type of government absurd and deeply disturbing, it doesn't mean I'm a card-carrying member of the "Tea Party". There, I just put all "Conservatives" in a box that not all of them fit in. My point is, we all (at least here on this site) find this legislation wrong and Orwellian.
OK. I'm done with my turn on the soapbox.
-Jason

 

[classicgeek]

Well said, Jason.
Simon

 

[cornguy]

Lordnoble, you are correct.

Some pipe smokers are conservatives, some are liberals, some are centrists and some would be offeneded to be labelled as any of the above.

Smokers of all political stripes find the NYC park-smoking ban idiotic and excessive.

I'll bet many non-smokers feel the same way.

Whether you're on the right, on the left or in the middle (where most Amercians are) this NYC ban is just plain wrong.

If a gentleman cannot enjoy a stroll through a park while smoking his pipe -- an age-old, fundamentally pastoral activity -- then it's a sad day for personal liberty and basic tolerance.

At some point, more reasonable attitudes might prevail. At least, that's my hope.