California City Wants World's Strictest Smoking Ban

DPA
Mar. 15, 2007

Council members in the northern California city of Belmont are set to introduce what many consider the world's toughest municipal ban on smoking.

The ordinance, which was presented to the city council Tuesday night would ban smokers from apartment buildings, parks, all city sidewalks and streets and anywhere within about 6 metres of a business entrance, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Wednesday.

The hearing in the city just east of San Francisco was packed with supporters and opponents of the controversial proposal which must undergo several more hearings before it could become law.

Supporters of the draconian ban included cancer survivors and their families, who told the council they were continually subjected to second-hand smoke from neighbouring apartments.

"When our neighbour is smoking on the balcony, it takes about two seconds for the smoke to reach our apartment," Sheila Strand, whose husband was diagnosed with cancer in October 2005, was quoted as saying.

Some restaurant owners denounced the proposal saying it would prompt customers to take their business to other cities. "If you restrict people from smoking in Belmont, this will have a terrible effect on business," said restauranteur Loring De Martini.

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