MORRISVILLENo puffing up in parks
Posted: Monday, July 16, 2012 11:03 pm | Updated: 3:00 am, Tue Jul 17, 2012.
Posted on July 16, 2012
Smokers who visit Morrisville parks will have to light up in designated areas only.
The council approved Monday a ban on smoking in the borough’s six parks, recreation areas and playgrounds. Those include Williamson Park, Manor Park Play Area, Morrisville Lake, the dog park, the Riverfront Preserve and the Graystones Nature Preserve.
Smokers will be allowed to puff on their cigarettes, cigars and pipes in the parking lots of these locations. And if there’s no parking lot, smokers will have to take their smoking to their cars, according to the ordinance.
Resident Jane Burger, although supportive of such an ordinance, also asked the council before voting to consider that some people visit these locations by foot or bike, so they won’t have a car to smoke in.
Violators will be asked to leave the area.
“If the violator refuses to leave the area after this one warning, violators will be immediately ejected from the parks and playgrounds and recreation areas,” reads the ordinance without specifically stating who will be responsible for the enforcement.
Councilman Dave Rivella pushed for the “Young Lungs At Play” Tobacco Free Zone ordinance for the general public, but especially to avoid children’s exposure to secondhand smoke.
“I’m happy that it passed,” he said.
But the vote wasn’t unanimous. It passed 6-2, with council members Debbie Smith and Todd Sanford voting against it.
Before voting, they both questioned the enforcement of the ordinance.
Rivella said hopefully enforcement won’t be needed because people will follow the law, adding that appropriate signage will be posted in designated tobacco free and smoking prohibited areas.
Council President Nancy Sherlock said if enforcement is needed, council will come back to the issue to discuss it and find a solution.
36 comments:
Really? With all the problems Morrisville has? I cannot believe I agree with Debbie and Todd.
DEAR COUNCIL MEMBERS: GET US TAXPAYING COMMERCE IN TOWN THAT DOES NOT INVOLVE TOBACCO OR FINGERNAIL POLISH. STOP BEING BIG BROTHER AND START GETTING US TAX RELIEF.
Meh.
Mr. Bounder: Ah. Hello, I'm Bounder of Adventure.
Mr. Smoketoomuch: Oh, hello. My name is Smoketoomuch.
Mr. Bounder: What?
Mr. Smoketoomuch: My name is Smoketoomuch. Mr. Smoketoomuch.
Mr. Bounder: Well, you'd better cut down a little then.
Mr. Smoketoomuch: I'm sorry?
Mr. Bounder: You'd better cut down a little then.
Mr. Smoketoomuch: Oh, I see! Smoke too much so I'd better cut down a little then!
Mr. Bounder: Yes. Ooh, it's going to get people making jokes about your name all the time, eh?
Mr. Smoketoomuch: No, actually, it never struck me before. Smoketoomuch..
Right...,. let's pass an ordinance that we have no hope of enforcing because it is currently the popular thing to do and creates the appearance of leadership when everyone knows the emperor has no clothes. What a waste of time. You can buy smokes at at least a dozen shops whose main product is tobacco in town, but you can't smoke. Makes sense..We have a fireworks store, and it is illegal to light fireworks in PA, although from what I've seen no one enforces that either.
Not good, but look at the bright side, better than producing a harmful ordinance or taking a harmful action on something important.
"DEAR COUNCIL MEMBERS: GET US TAXPAYING COMMERCE IN TOWN THAT DOES NOT INVOLVE TOBACCO OR FINGERNAIL POLISH. STOP BEING BIG BROTHER AND START GETTING US TAX RELIEF."
I really don't understand this. So, are you in favor of second-hand smoke? There is nothing council can do about the smoke shops, but when they take a positive public stand against smoking, that's wrong too?
You seem to have the answers so any ideas on how to do this? Sounds like you may have some vast knowledge of these things so maybe you could volunteer your time on the MEDC (Morrisville Economic Development Corp) or help the MBA (Morrisville Business Association) since they are both designed to bring in commerce.
It is illegal for Borough Council to regulate smoke/nail shops. Smoke shops and nail shops bring in the same tax dollars as other businesses. They cannot be zoned out so that's out of council's hands.
From what I saw, the signs are free. Anyone who is not a smoker and has been in public around one knows the value of taking this anti-smoking position. I've had to go home and take a shower to get the smoke smell out of my hair when someone was smoking near me.
Morrisville cannot regulate smoke shops. Morrisville can send a message that we do not support them, which is what this does. This also sends a positive message to Morrisville children. If one person sees these signs and does not smoke around those who do not want it, its a win.
It's OK. In the grand scheme it's not a big deal one way or other. Next issue. Seek your tax relief elsewhere. The town needs to maintain its streets, trees, water & sewer, police, collect garbage and recycle, etc etc etc. Basics. Not much extravagance if any. Get Pres Romney in there and he'll raise taxes on us working stiffs and fixed incomers so fat cats can get fatter. Plop plop fizz fizz Oh what a relief it is!
I'll give them this one.
LOL, when I first saw this thread, I was going to respond in length. But all I'm going to say is, a little, new, positive law from a good group who have been working tirelessly to clean up decades of neglect in the borough and they get thrown under the bus for it so easily.
Not much of a bus really, I wouldn't sweat it.
When are the job creators going to start creating some jobs?
Its getting where you can't afford cigs no matter where you wanna smoke 'em. You can't smoke what you ain't got.
What's next on council's agenda???
Is the suggestion above that council are now responsible for being job creators?
If you are asking what's next, I am assuming you have been paying attention to what they have been doing over the past couple of years. If you have you know that more has been done to improve Morrisville in the past couple of years than has been done in the twenty before that.
I believe what's next on council's agenda is a borough wide energy saving upgrade that will include new street lights for the entire borough & updates to all borough buildings, all without raising taxes to pay for it.
"I really don't understand this. So, are you in favor of second-hand smoke? There is nothing council can do about the smoke shops, but when they take a positive public stand against smoking, that's wrong too?"
Please. Are you serious? Second hand smoke when you can move a few steps away? You're outside for God's sake! It's a symbolic feelgood non-event designed to create an impression of action in the midst of do-nothingness. This turns the other users in the park into tattling third graders when they call 911 to report *GASP* a SMOKER IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS! while our third grade disciplinarian police force rockets down to Williamson Park to enforce a ridiculous ordinance while missing the drug deal going on in Robert Morris Plaza.
Council can do a lot to build up this town. We have no industrial base left to work with so we need to stop making this town a drive in for New Jersey state workers to get their nail done or grab a smoke. Do they stop at any of the other stores in town to get lunch at the same time? Get their car fixed? Make Morrisville a "destination", not a "speed bump".
Council can *lead* others to move forward. Their role can be more symbolic than concrete. They help create the atmosphere and conditions for business with the ordinances that foster business growth and development. It's more of a job than just casting votes in public a few times a month.
If only we had 3.5 Dreisbachs and 3.5 Sanfords and 1 Burger to guide them.
Rearranging the deck chairs? Fiddling while Rome burns?
There are other good metaphors for what this ordinance is. The crazy thing is that even the council passing it recognizes that they have almost no hope of enforcing it, yet, despite that, let's pass it. I predict this will be selectively enforced on the people deemed by some to be less desirable.
How dare you criticize this 9/11 Pearl Harbor Holocaust of an ordinance!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's all going to be in my book!
Bows and flows of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
I've looked at clouds that way
But now they only block the sun
They rain and snow on everyone
So many things I would have done
But clouds got in my way
I've looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
It's cloud illusions I recall
I really don't know clouds at all
Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels
The dizzy dancing way you feel
As every fairy tale comes real
I've looked at love that way
But now it's just another show
You leave 'em laughing when you go
And if you care, don't let them know
Don't give yourself away
I've looked at love from both sides now
From give and take, and still somehow
It's love's illusions I recall
I really don't know love at all
Tears and fears and feeling proud
To say "I love you" right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
I've looked at life that way
Oh but now old friends are acting strange
They shake their heads, they say I've changed
Well something's lost but something's gained
In living every day
I've looked at life from both sides now
From WIN and LOSE and still somehow
It's life's illusions I recall
I really don't know life at all
I've looked at life from both sides now
From up and down and still somehow
It's life's illusions I recall
I really don't know life at all
"the midst of do-nothingness"
Either you haven't been paying attention or you are campaigning very early.
Other than this, which I hope is a joke
"How dare you criticize this 9/11 Pearl Harbor Holocaust of an ordinance!!!!!!!!!!!!!" (dude, get some perspective)
I'm finding this all kind of funny in a sad way. So typical of Morrisville. Bunch of whiners. Its not the end of the world. What is annoying about all of this is that the people complaining about council over this step against smoking have obviously had blinders on over the past couple of years.
LOL you know who you are. Things progressing in Morrisville a little too well over the past few years so you and your cronies have to jump on this one and run with it.
MOVING ON....
ROFLMAO!
When the fireworks store came to town did it get this much heat as this, putting up of no smoking signs in the park? I can't remember hearing anything at all about it. Although, back then I didn't have as much time to read blogs as I do now.
OOOHHHHH I hadn't even thought of that, yes campaigning has come early to Morrisville. Keep up the ur, um 'good'? work obstructionists. Negativity really is what you do best.
While some are complaining about a couple of free signs, Debby Smith just cost all of us in Morrisville $20,000 (on purpose) on a free paving project and nobody is talking about it on here. Tells me everything I need to know about who is complaining about an issue as easy to figure out as smoking.
"Debby Smith just cost all of us in Morrisville $20,000 (on purpose) on a free paving project and nobody is talking about it on here."
So, tell us about it so we can bitch and complain about this too!!
As far as responding to the smoking ordinance, it's not really complaining that council is doing something. I think it's obvious that people are complaining that council can take the time and effort to draft, consider and pass an ordinance that no one seems to be seeking and has no hope of accomplishing its intentions, while they either ignore or delay taking meaningful action on so many of the bigger problems faced by the boro.
Chillax. We're all a bunch of whining morons who are out to get you, whoever you are. Seriously tho....get your message out. It's a soul crushing up-hill battle but you have to do a better job of it. SOC is great at it. They pat themselves on the back all the time even when it isn't true or when they didn't have a G-damn thing to do with it. Don't do that, be truthful.Pick your battles. I don't believe this is 1 'em.
"Debby Smith just cost all of us in Morrisville $20,000 (on purpose) on a free paving project and nobody is talking about it on here."
I'm a 3rd ward voter. Tell me! Tell me!
Yay Debby---THANKS FOR PAVING THE WAY FOR THIS 20K WASTED OPP!
I just lit a Smokin Joes cigar in the Park with some of the wasted money.
New levels of ridiculousness have been achieved. Thank you for your patronage.
Did you use the cigar to set off some fireworks?
"Pick your battles. I don't believe this is 1 'em."
I concur, but no battles are fought in here, just a place to come and blather. Any real battles must be fought at the polls and in the meetings.
Jon said...New levels of ridiculousness have been achieved. Thank you for your patronage.
The exceptional of yore merely becomes the commonplace of today. Strive! Strive and achieve greatly!
Can't argue with this smoking ban
Kevin Riordan, Inquirer Columnist
I used to smoke cigarettes, and some of my best friends still do. But it's as a matter of principle that I dislike the demonization of smokers.
After all, Marlboros - like deep-fried cheeseburgers or vodka martinis - are potentially lethal, but they're also perfectly legal.
So when I hear about Camden County's ban on smoking in its 20 parks, my inner libertarian lights up.
The notion that the great outdoors ought to be rendered as smoke-free as an enclosed private workplace seems absurd. Particularly so in New Jersey, which is hardly known for the pristine quality of its air.
But I'm willing to listen.
"At best, it's obnoxious," Freeholder Jeff Nash says, referring to smoking in general, and second-hand smoke in particular.
"At worst, it's deadly."
Nash, whose father was a smoker and died of lung cancer, stands in front of a new sign in the Berlin Park playground, just off the White Horse Pike in Berlin Borough. The freeholder, other officials, and the sign are all there to announce that the area is officially "Tobacco Free."
The signs - total cost $2,600 - are being installed in all county parks and in particular near playground equipment.
"If people want to subject themselves to their own smoke I would not stop them," Nash says. "But to spread that smoke to children is wrong."
The county regularly hears from citizens concerned about public smoking in parks, "particularly after large events," he says, adding that his office received "18 or 19" formal complaints in 2011.
"It's one of the top complaints we get about the parks."
The ordinance was inspired by a Berlin resident who noticed adults frequently smoking around the playground equipment where children were present. It has been on the books for about a year, but the park police have only recently begun to issue oral warnings to violators.
Repeat offenders risk a $50 fine.
"I see this as a grassroots effort to educate the public," Camden County Park Police Chief Robert Colangelo says. "We will aggressively do this - but in a good manner."
Robert Blaker, the county's director of public safety, likens the ordinance to seat-belt laws.
"The bottom line is, this is an ordinance, and it's actually a very good one," he says. "It's about a quality-of-the-park (offense)."
It's also a public health issue, notes Jessica Backofen, the American Cancer Society's interim regional vice president for South Jersey.
Nationally, she says, second-hand smoke annually causes 3,400 deaths from lung cancer and 46,000 from heart disease.
Given that second-hand smoke contains 4,000 substances, including 60 known or suspected carcinogens, about 700 municipalities and counties across America have instituted some form of outdoor-smoking ban.
"The most powerful effect these bans can have," Backofen adds, "is on children."
I ask Genesis Santana, 13, for her opinion.
Santana lives in the Cramer Hill section of Camden, two blocks from Von Nieda Park. She is active in a community group, organized by St. Anthony of Padua Church, that has cleaned up litter - including an abundance of cigarette butts - at the park, and lobbied for drainage and other improvements there.
On July 13, she was part of a delegation that travelled from Cramer Hill to the federal Department of Health and Human Services to make a presentation about their community's effort to reclaim Von Nieda.
"I hope (the ban) changes people's ways of thinking," Santana says when I call her.
PART 2 of 2 (from today's Phila. Inquirer)
Backofen says changing behavior also is a goal. And as someone who remembers the haze of the Mad Men days - when everyone smoked, everywhere - I can't deny how much less toxic public places have become because of restrictions.
As for the ban in the parks, Nash says: "We are going to rely upon people using common courtesy and common sense."
If that's lacking in an individual whom police cite for repeatedly violating the ban, he says, there's the disincentive of the $50 fine.
"But the true penalty for smoking," he adds, "is death."
Hard to argue with that.
""But the true penalty for smoking," he adds, "is death."
I'd like to amend this to read:
"The true pemalty for living...is death."
No one here gets out alive!
Tell me about it.
Jim Morrison
Tell all the people that you see?
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