Santa Monica, Calif., votes to ban smoking on the beach
The Santa Monica, Calif., City Council has voted to ban smoking on the city’s beaches. According to The Los Angeles Times, the measure was approved “to stamp out cigarette-butt litter and secondhand smoke’s ill effects.” The measure must be approved a second time by the council to take effect. A deputy city attorney told the paper that the ban would take effect on May 13 if the council approves the ordinance at its April 13 meeting. “The City Council backed off from a smoking ban at the city’s fabled wooden pier, bowing to tenants’ wishes that a few smoking areas be designated at the nearly century-old hangout for residents and tourists,” the Times reports. Santa Monica is the second California city to ban smoking at the beach, according to the paper. For more information, visit http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=2026&ncid=2026&e=2&u=/latimests/20040325/ts_latimes/lightingupatbeachisbanned.