Manhattan Beach considers tougher smoking ban
Craig Cadwallader of the Surfrider Foundation-South Bay weighs in at the Town Hall meeting Monday discussing the need for a tougher ordinance against outdoor smoking. Photo Community members and experts gathered at the Manhattan Beach Council Chambers Monday evening to discuss imposing a more rigorous ordinance against smoking in public places. The ban would be similar to that of Hermosa Beach, which went into effect in 2010. “We are neighbors inspiring neighbors,” Hermosa Beach councilman Jeff Duclos said. “Hermosa’s smoking population has gone down by 36 percent since the ordinance went into effect.” Concern over smoking in public places is twofold. First, residents are concerned with the health effects of secondhand smoke. Second, the resulting litter from cigarette butts is a major polluter not only on the streets of Manhattan Beach but in its ocean. Holly Maynes of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency opened the meeting with a host of statistics about the health effects of secondhand smoke and the benefits of its prohibition. “Cities with strong smoke-free outdoors policies have 30 percent chance less heart attacks,” Maynes said. “Six cities in L.A. County…
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