I have to say that this will be a great thing for the city if the Marietta City Council decides to vote for a permanent smoking ban in Glover Park (downtown Marietta). The cigar smoke from some cheap cigars that someone was smoking was terrible at the last concert I attended. Why should I have to inhale someone else’s second and smoke, or why should my kids have to for that matter?
Currently, both the city and county only ban smoking in government buildings, officials said. Rich Buss, the city’s parks director, said smoking is also prohibited in restaurants in compliance with the Georgia Smokefree Air Act of 2005, but there are a few exceptions. For example, smoking is allowed if a bar or restaurant denies access to employees and customers younger than 18 or if it has a private, enclosed room with a separate air handling system independent of the main one.
In reading the excerpt from the MDJ article about the subject, Councilman the Rev. Anthony Coleman said he is concerned about setting a precedent for banning smoking at other city parks.
“Even though I don’t smoke, they have a right to smoke. They do have a right and it is a public park,” Coleman said.
While I personally agree someone should have the right to do whatever they want, I also don’t think my health should be compromised by their decision – how is that fair to folks that don’t want to pollute their lungs?
Councilman Chalfant is in support of banning smoking in all public parks in the City of Marietta. Some other Georgia City governments also prohibit smoking in public parks. These include Clayton, Tift and Henry counties as well as the Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation Authority, and the city of Gainesville, Ga.
11 Comments
any public park that has a playground should have a smoking ban, or at least designated smoking sections…. if my child can’t eat dinner out side at hemmingways b/c people might be smoking, why should a smoker be allowed down at the train where my child is playing…. fair is fair and it isn’t fair to my children and my unborn child for us to be breathing in someone elses second hand smoke!
For all of the Cobb County residents that want to ban smoking in Cobb parks, I ask you , what right do you have to tell smokers if they can smoke outside? We already have enough bans on smoking. How far do you think you have the right to push this issue? Remember people, smokers pay their taxes just like you do. The park does not belong to just a certain group. I was at the park on the Fourth of July. I cannot complain about the smokers. I did not smell any smoke. I am not, and have never been a smoker, I am a citizen with asthma!!! Believe me,if there was a smoking problem, I certainly would be the first to detect it. I think that everyone should remember that no one is perfect. We all have our own vices, whether small or large. Have some tolorence for others, or this will become a small world. I would sure hope that the merchants around the park will unite and speak up. Without the merchants, Marietta Square(Glover Pk.)will become like so many other small town parks. Basically by-gone days! SAD!!
I’m not sure where people get this “right to smoke” from. There is no constitutional right to smoke. There is not even a right to vote for a federal candidate. People, and especially those that are elected to office shouldn’t throw around the word “right” without knowing what they are talking about.
Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
What right do you have to eat fast food. Smoking is an unhealthy choice, just like McDonalds. I don’t want to listen to your whining kids outside any more than I want some smoke blown in my face. I have a choice to stay there. Your child has a right to be annoying, a smoker has a right to smoke, and I have the right to tell you all to go to hell for annoying me.
Basically if folks want to smoke, they can do that at home or even on any sidewalk in downtown Marietta. The fact that you can’t smoke in the park just keeps unwanted second hand smoke from other people. If you chose to drink, that’s fine – other than drinking and driving that doesn’t affect others – but second hand smoke has a direct affect on someone else’s health other than your own. If you want to smoke, just find a place where it doesn’t affect others – somewhere other than the park in this case. Or you can still smoke there if you want to pay $500 I guess.
- Cheers -
James, you appear to be getting a little worked up. Did you miss my constitutional lesson above? There is also no right to eat McDonalds. You got the part correct the right to for kids to whine. That would be free speech.
You got something else right. You have the right to tell us to “go to hell.” That goes along with the right of having poor taste.
Jason, James, let’s keep this nice ok guys – I’m all for spirited but let’s not attack each other in the comments. Cool deal – thanks for listening
And thanks for voicing your opinions everyone!
My point is….
My family has “lost” the right to eat at establishments on the square that we enjoy (ie outside at hemingways) b/c smokers are allowed there. So if we don’t have the “right” to eat at certain resturants (and I’m talking about at 5 pm not, 11…) then why should smokers have the “right” to smoke where my children play (and the train is obviously designated for children and I have seen smokers around it). I am not saying all public parks should ban smoking, but I do think that there should be a smoking ban within so many yards of playgrounds or designated smoking areas. Parks are inundated with families and families shouldn’t have to breath in smoke just because you choose to. My children obviously then don’t get a choice.
Wait. Where else am I going to smoke some serious doobage?
DOES ANY ONE KNOW?!
They should designate smoking sections in Glover Park.
Preferably by the little train playground. Or up on that stage looking thing. What is that. Seriously.
Oh, and fix the water fountains, for the love of krishna, please. It’s summer, I’m thirsty.
When you have open heart surgery caused from smoking. You will think twice wanting to smoke or smoke around people you love.