Not to be outdone by Boulder, CO Springs bans outdoor smoking...

[lowbeyond]

http://www.krdo.com/news/smoking-ban...z/-/index.html

Smoking banned in Colo. Springs parks

Water restrictions eased

Rana Novini, Anchor/Reporter, r.novini@krdo.com


COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Colorado Springs City Council voted Tuesday to ban smoking in all city parks.

Karen Palus, the city's director of parks, said that on many occasions Colorado Springs parks employees have found mounds of cigarette butts in city parks. The tossed butts present a fire danger, according to Palus.

As news of the ban broke in Memorial Park on Tuesday afternoon, there were mixed reactions.

Gordon Butt and his wife were playing by Prospect Lake with their 18-month-old son. Butt told KRDO NewsChannel 13 that he was glad his son could soon come to the park without worrying about second-hand smoke.

"When you're in a public park, and I want to be playing with my son, I don't want to have to take him somewhere else because there's three or four adults right next to the playground smoking," Butt said.

Smokers at the park were outraged.

"As an adult in the state of Colorado, I feel that if I'm able to go fight for my country, I should be able to smoke freely wherever I want to," said Jesus Pacheco.

Also on City Council's agenda was easing water restrictions in Colorado Springs.

Council voted to allow residents to use 2500 cubic feet of water instead of 2,000 cubic feet. Customers who exceed that usage will be charged 1.25 times the cost instead of the previous two times the cost.

Gary Bostrom, chief water services officer for Colorado Springs Utilities, told KRDO NewsChannel 13 that, basically, customers can now use more water and will be fined less for going over the limit.

The number of days a resident can water has not changed. Watering restrictions remain at two days a week.

"City Council certainly understands we're in a drought, and given the uncertainty of where the snowpack will be next year, we need to continue to save to be in a better position for next year by saving water this year," Bostrom said.

[3beansalad]

Is this a sign that the Springs has been lost to the Bloomberg liberals?
Next thing you know, Morse will win the recall election...

Fack.

[hghclsswhitetrsh]

What's the issue? Now a person with asthma or other upper respiratory issue can enjoy the park, and a smoker is inconvenienced by not being able to light up...

[Dave_L]

What's the issue? Now a person with asthma or other upper respiratory issue can enjoy the park, and a smoker is inconvenienced by not being able to light up...

"No shooting on public land. Now people that want to hike and atv, can enjoy the wilderness and evil gun owner is inconvenienced by having to go somewhere private". See the issue yet?

[hghclsswhitetrsh]

"No shooting on public land. Now people that want to hike and atv, can enjoy the wilderness and evil gun owner is inconvenienced by having to go somewhere private". See the issue yet?

Yep I see that.

I guess the issue is human decency. And that will never be able to be enforced through legislation.

[Ronin13]

Can't we, as people, simply ask one another not to smoke or move if we don't like being near a smoker? As an asthmatic former smoker, I hate cigarette smoke with a passion, but c'mon. The people are already outdoors after all, it's not like they are being trapped within Sertich Ice Arena with a bunch of chain smokers.

Less legislation, less government = more freedom.

I'm in the same boat (asthmatic former smoker), and I concur. I hate the smoke, not the smoker, but can't restrict freedom.

"No shooting on public land. Now people that want to hike and atv, can enjoy the wilderness and evil gun owner is inconvenienced by having to go somewhere private". See the issue yet?

Well put! And that is a separate issue that really pisses me off that'll have to wait for another thread on the topic.

[sellersm]

I guess the issue is human decency. And that will never be able to be enforced through legislation.

Remove God, and you MUST legislate all human behavior...

Kinda funny how they seem to have used 'mounds of cig butts' as evidence! How do they know the butts were burning when they were deposited on the ground?

[3beansalad]

Remove God, and you MUST legislate all human behavior...

Amen, preach it!

[3beansalad]

Can't we, as people, simply ask one another not to smoke or move if we don't like being near a smoker? As an asthmatic former smoker, I hate cigarette smoke with a passion, but c'mon. The people are already outdoors after all, it's not like they are being trapped within Sertich Ice Arena with a bunch of chain smokers.

Less legislation, less government = more freedom.

[Trout Hunter]

Can't we, as people, simply ask one another not to smoke or move if we don't like being near a smoker? As an asthmatic former smoker, I hate cigarette smoke with a passion, but c'mon. The people are already outdoors after all, it's not like they are being trapped within Sertich Ice Arena with a bunch of chain smokers.

Less legislation, less government = more freedom.

This ^^^^^

I hate cig smoke with a passion. But I am also all about personal liberties and I do not like to see the encroached upon. IMO part of the problem we have in this country with poor social skills is we legislate instead of just communicating. Giving the example I quoted it takes all interaction out of the equation. I am fine with you having the desire to smoke and take a walk in a park just like you should respect the fact when I express that I have an issue with smoke and could you please put it out for a few till I am done or smoke in another section of the park. Legislating it takes all of our community communicating skills and tosses the need for them out the window.