Posted on 04/19/2008 8:06:31 PM PDT by GOP_Lady
NORTH ROYALTON -- "City has gone too far," one protester said while lighting up cigar in the city parking lot Thursday afternoon.
Last week, the North Royalton City Council voted to outlaw outdoor smoking on city-owned property, going beyond the state's indoor public smoking ban.
The new ordinance in North Royalton applies to public parks, playing fields, parking lots and outdoor seating areas. It does not include sidewalks.
Mayor Robert Stefanik said the ban was proposed as a response to smoking at Little League baseball games.
On Thursday morning, more than 40 protesters showed up to light up cigarettes and cigars in the parking lot of City Hall, in defiance of the new law.
"I think the mayor and city council opened up a hornet's nest with the new law and now they don't know how to control it," Gino Zaccardelli said while looking at the group smoking and waving American flags.
Nearby, Linda Gilbert held an unlit cigarette in her hand.
"I am not a smoker," she said. "But they keep telling us what to do and it's getting out of control and ridiculous like a communist country now."
Protester, Rick DeMarco, added, "They don't want you to eat potato chips with trans fat, they don't want you to use cell phones. Where does it end? It's getting to the point where it's ridiculous."
At the entrance to North Royalton ballparks, the signs clearly say "no trucks", "no guns", and "no alcohol."
Soon they will be adding a new one that says "No Smoking."
Bill Stevens, owner of the Wine Reserve store in Medina, drove up to provide free cigars for any protestor who wanted to light up. The gesture cost Stevens about $400.
"If they want to outlaw cigarettes and cigars, then do it and don't let us sell them," Stevens said. "But they are legal and to tell people they can't smoke them anywhere makes no sense."
Mayor Robert Stefanik said, "We've had several complaints about second hand smoke in the baseball stands when it is windy and the smoke blows right in your face. I have a duty to respond to the needs of our citizens."
Protester Rich Sisson said the city wants it both ways when it comes to cigarettes and cigars.
"If they really want to get rid of cigarettes completely, then why are merchants selling cigarettes in North Royalton stores," he said. "The city enjoys the tax dollars but yet they won't let people smoke."
The mayor said he has overwhelming support from residents about the new smoking ban. He said North Royalton police will let first time offenders off with a warning. He warns that repeat violators could be fined $100.
"I hope it doesn't come to that," Stefanik said.
Check out the video.
What the heck do they mean, “no trucks”?
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I don’t blame the people for being irate. I neither smoke nor advocate smoking, but this “control freak” thing has gone much too far.
Here is the link to the local radio talk show mentioned in the video:
http://wtam.com/pages/bobfrantz/ondemand/
Indeed it has. It’s what makes us mad at each other, mad at law, and mad at government.
“The government that governs least governs best” -—Thoreau
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They want some smoke, dump off a load of tires and set ‘em on fire. Anonymously, of course.
Care to post some of your own words on this article?
““The government that governs least governs best” -—Thoreau”
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I believe that Thomas Paine said it even better, and before Thoreau, when he coined the phrase “laissez faire.”
Wonder what else the City Council has up their sleeve?
Let’s see...under Emminent Domain, the city can seize all of your property at any time- long as they compensate you for it- so with that power in mind, they can pass a law banning smoking in your own home- that will only be a $50 fine, etc.....just smile at the camera- made in 1984- and say Ho Big Bro !
Anyone know where North Royalton is?
Maybe the city got tired of paying somebody to pick up after the smokers on its property.
No, listen to the Mayor on the link of the radio talk show.
Good evening. Hope all is well. :-)
All is going well here. Good evening to you also.
I have been lurking around here on and off all evening. I can’t stand these anti-smoking zealots. Walk along a busy road in the hot summer and you will almost pass out from the fumes....but by god we can ban those damn cigarettes.
I honestly think most Americans don’t even have the brains anymore to figure it out.
I would have gone. But, I’m trying to quit. I wish every smoker would quit just to vex the tax man. let them tax alcohol to death. Drunks paying $40.00 for a 12 pack of beer would make my day.
New one on me too. Maybe it means no cigar chomping rednecks, clingin' to guns and religion, driving big 'ol four wheel drive trucks into the park?
Baloney! You're already counting the money you think this will bring in....
"Winston tastes bad like the last one I had, no filter, no flavor, tastes like toilet paper.
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“New one on me too. Maybe it means no cigar chomping rednecks, clingin’ to guns and religion, driving big ‘ol four wheel drive trucks into the park?”
Now, now. Don’t be bitter. ;-)
Then how can you expect others to "shed a tear" for you?
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PING
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