Comments on: Petaluma City Council OKs tough smoking restrictions

By: BigDogatPlay

BigDogatPlay — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 14:27:12 +0000

Seems we were recently celebrating the end of the progressive mantra on the council. Apparently the outgoing yayhoos still have a bit of manure left up their sleeves to force upon us.

Prohibiting by council fiat what is an otherwise lawful within the confines and comfort of their own home based on specious medical research and the complaints of a handful of whiners…. and that “passes legal muster”? Really, Mr. Albertson. Perhaps you should have stuck to fighting fires because you have no sense for the law and for equality under it.

And Mr. Caruso… if you have a problem with a smoker lighting up in a public place, cross the street. Be thankful for the opportunity to add a few more steps to your healthy routine. After all, as a free man living in the greatest republic on earth you should rejoice in that opportunity, rather than forcibly imposing your own narrow view of morality on the population as a whole.

Oh, but wait, you already have, haven’t you? So will you next campaign against people smoking in their own single family homes on the off chance that you may happen to walk by such a home some morning?

As a former smoker myself I wish everyone would quit, if for no other reason than to selfishly cut the state off from the hundreds of millions of dollars in sin taxes on tobacco. But as an American who believes deeply in personal freedom I do not feel it up to me to regulate the personal health choices that someone else makes.

I just cross the street……….

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By: Skippy

Skippy — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 22:38:26 +0000

Participate in “Red Tag Nation” revolution. Every time the thugs of Big Govt tell you not to do something, do it anyway.
When they warn you, laugh in their faces.
Then tell them to leave now or face the logical consequences.
Can’t smoke in my own home? Screw you.
Stuff it, officer and go pound sand.
When they “Red Tag” your home or business, put a light on the tag and invite the neighbors over for a red tag party.
Don’t ignore the bullies, celebrate them.
Then slam the door in their faces.
Collect the whole set of “you can’t do that” red tags!
What will “The Man” do if half the town/county/state/nation is willfully ignoring them?
Big Govt will not go away unless we kill it.
Ridicule is an effective weapon against tyranny.
For now….

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By: susan clark

susan clark — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 21:57:14 +0000

Liberal California government wants to tell everyone what they can and can’t do. Pretty soon you won’t be able to bacon or ham in public less it insults anyone.

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By: Jim

Jim — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 14:55:52 +0000

Does the ban cover “medical” marijuana? Or is that an exemption because it is a “medicine”?

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By: 0 Representation

0 Representation — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 04:27:18 +0000

I’m not a smoker. But WOW! Seriously? What’s next? Oh yeah..Road diets, bigger pot-holes that go without repair and obviously a continued HUGE disconnect with the city council. They aren’t worried about being sued. I’m beginning to think Petaluma is no longer just Pot-hole-luma… it’s Sue-aluma. Question for the City Council: JUST WHO DO YOU THINK YOU WORK FOR? The obvious answer is: Just yourselves with your very own agendas.

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By: James Bennett

James Bennett — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 04:11:27 +0000

“Citizens vote to ban freedom restrictions”…

Buses, no.

Your own home?

Is a bong a “smoking implement”?

Just wondering.

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By: StarsUponThars

StarsUponThars — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 18:03:18 +0000

echoing what Phil Maher said, it makes absolutely no sense to ban the ecigarettes and call them a “smoking implement”. ecigarettes do not create a public health problem, and are generally used by smokers trying to cut down or ween themselves off of smoking. they do not create any kind of scent or smell, and the vapor dissipates very quickly.

i would think that any city or business who is genuinely concerned about the health consequences of smoking cigarettes would support the use of ecigarettes, within reason, both for the person using it themselves and for the bystanders.

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By: Joyce Garcia

Joyce Garcia — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:48:12 +0000

Big Government overstepping it’s powers once more….deeming what private property owners can allow on their property….silly people in support of this ban…..why do you hate individual freedom?

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By: Over Easy

Over Easy — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 22:27:44 +0000

I’m OK with all of the public restrictions but in private Condos? Nope.

The taxpayers of Petaluma are now on the hook for a long and expensive federal lawsuit of which they are guaranteed to lose.

There is ample existing case law on this very issue and it is shocking that their legal council did not advise them prior to this. If they were smart an immediate about face on the private property would be in order.

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By: Phil Maher

Phil Maher — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 19:58:33 +0000

What doesn’t stand to reason is that those “electronic cigarettes” are considered a “smoking implement” under the new ordinance. It’s my understanding, based on how they’re advertised, that they emit nothing but harmless water vapor. So, is the council trying to eliminate a decidedly harmful second-hand substance, or are they trying to regulate an physical action that they don’t necessarily agree with, regardless of it’s having no substantiated “public health” consequences? If those cigarettes do only in fact emit water vapor, then why not ban fog, clouds, evaporation from the foul-smelling slough they call a “river”…? And why stop at smoking, what about fireplace smoke with countless more particulates than cigarettes, especially those fake logs? And then car exhaust, fragrances that some might find objectionable, barbeques, restaurant grills, stinky trashcans, sewer vents on your roof, dog poo…bad breath? Where does it stop? Just wondering.

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By: Diana Johnson

Diana Johnson — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 18:23:16 +0000

I think this is ridiculous. Too much control and rules. Ban smoking indoors is fine, but outdoors? Why not just outlaw tobacco altogether? Close down all the smoke shops. Make it a crime. Then we can have the jails filled with outlaw smokers…lol Jeez its just crazy! And yes Im a smoker at the moment. We are losing more and more rights in this country, and it started with the seat belt laws. Soon we will be told what we can eat, who we can and cant associate with, etc. sigh

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