Princeton snuffs smoking

NJ.com The Times ^ | April 27, 2005 | ROBERT STERN

[KeyesPlease]

PRINCETON BOROUGH - An outdoor public plaza used to be the kind of place where smokers like Joseph Santoli were practically guaranteed a safe haven to light up.

So Santoli, who was looking for a local cigar shop while visiting Princeton this week from Ridgewood, was surprised to learn that borough officials want to prohibit smoking in a new 15,000-square-foot outdoor plaza downtown next to the Princeton Public Library.

Last night, the borough council voted 5-1 to adopt an ordinance that includes a ban on smoking in the plaza. Under the ban, which applies only to the library plaza, violators will face a maximum fine of $1,000 and up to 90 days of community service.

[KeyesPlease]

"Ironically, the smoke-free plaza, which is likely to open in about a month, is across Witherspoon Street from the borough's only cigar shop - A Little Taste of Cuba."

Carajo!

[SheLion]

want to prohibit smoking in a new 15,000-square-foot outdoor plaza downtown next to the Princeton Public Library.

[Mears]

"But Councilman David Goldfarb, who cast the only vote against the library plaza smoking ban, said it's an example of government going too far.

"I'm concerned about going beyond what is reasonably necessary in terms of regulating the behavior of our citizens," Goldfarb said. "

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Here we go again ! Mr Goldfarb sounds like someone with an actual brain.

[SheLion]

I hope the tax payers aren't flipping the bill for this plaza.  Smoker's pay plenty in taxes and if they can't smoke outside on the grounds of this plaza, then their money should not be used to build it.

[SheLion]

Here we go again ! Mr Goldfarb sounds like someone with an actual brain.

One out of a hundred?!

[Mears]

You beat me to it! LOL

[SheLion]

You beat me to it! LOL

[kingattax]

How about prohibiting this ?? Second-hand gas is a health hazard

[SheLion]

How about prohibiting this ?? Second-hand gas is a health hazard

Not to mention that it's very hard on one's image.  Especially in public. LOL!

[edcoil]

Just like parks. The government takes our tax dollars and buys parks then does not allow people access to them so now we have more land on the government dole then our children will enjoy and will not be able to handle the tax burden in the future to maintain land they cannot have access.

[SheLion]

Just like parks. The government takes our tax dollars and buys parks then does not allow people access to them so now we have more land on the government dole then our children will enjoy and will not be able to handle the tax burden in the future to maintain land they cannot have access.

And, not only that, but the towns and cities have done away with the cigarette receptacles outside so where is a smoker supposed to put the butt before going in?  On the ground.  Then smoker's are ridiculed for being litter bugs.

It's a sad world we live in when they can treat a class of people like this.  I was hoping segregation had gone away.  When it comes to people who smoke, it's alive and well.

[Americanexpat]

Too bad you couldn't get ten thousand smokers together in the park and light up at the same time. I don't think the jails and courts are big enough to handle them. You know peaceful demonstration.

[SheLion]

Too bad you couldn't get ten thousand smokers together in the park and light up at the same time. I don't think the jails and courts are big enough to handle them. You know peaceful demonstration.

I know it!  Most other groups do it.  But smoker's have been ostracized so bad that most smoker's hang their heads, hide their cigarettes and feel guilty now.

Well, not all of us. heh! 

Too bad you couldn't get ten thousand smokers together in the park and light up at the same time. I don't think the jails and courts are big enough to handle them. You know peaceful demonstration.

I know it!  Most other groups do it.  But smoker's have been ostracized so bad that most smoker's hang their heads, hide their cigarettes and feel guilty now.

Well, not all of us. heh! 

[Mr. Blonde]

"We know what is good for you better then you do."