Thursday, May 22 2008
Although Redondo Beach still permits lighting-up on the beach, City Councilman Pat Aust, has convinced enough council members to get consideration of a cigarette ban added to the City's August agenda.
Over the years, past and present council members have argued a ban would infringe on people's personal rights and be viewed as an ineffective law without adequate enforcement.
And others have dismissed the argument that a prohibition would lead to a cleaner coastline, pointing out that beach butts also arrive from points inland, where they get washed into storm drains.
Aust said he raised the issue again out of concern for people's health and the fact that doing nothing would seem to contradict the city's own personnel policies. Redondo Beach requires employees to sign contracts saying they won't smoke during their careers in city government, he said.
Redondo Beach to reconsider beach smoking ban
