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Uploaded: Monday, October 26, 2009, 11:19 AM
Updated: Tuesday, October 27, 2009, 12:17 AM

Banning smoking in apartments, condos?  

Posted by fed up, a resident of the Atherton: West Atherton neighborhood, on Oct 26, 2009 at 1:04 pm

Sure, why not. Soon we won't be allowed to do anything without government sanctioning it. I am not a smoker, but I hate that we allow government to intrude in every aspect of our lives. Get used to shortages when government run healthcare is adopted. What's next - wide screen TVs, unhealthy snacks and fast food. I'm not a big TV watcher and I don't eat fast food, but these are only a few of the things that will be restricted before too long.

Posted by Second That, a resident of another community, on Oct 26, 2009 at 1:19 pm

I could not agree more.

Posted by Guest, a resident of another community, on Oct 26, 2009 at 1:34 pm

If you have a business that has customers and the city chases off the customers because of the rules the city should pay for the lost sales. If you're a landlord and the city chases off your tenants the city should pay for that. The city should not be allowed to destroy business with impunity.

Posted by dan, a resident of the Menlo Park: Belle Haven neighborhood, on Oct 26, 2009 at 1:34 pm

The people in every area need to start realizing the government is not the answer. The answer is YOU the people. You want to live in a smoke free environment; then form a community based on your groups ideals. You wanna smoke freely form a community based on your groups ideals. Its not bad to form communities. It is horrible to always use the government for such sanctions as it will cost EVERYONE in taxes and lost revenue for products that don't have a market. It basically comes directly out of your pockets.

Let freedom rein and let everyone be free!

Posted by WhoRUpeople, a resident of another community, on Oct 26, 2009 at 3:16 pm

I am a smoker, but I do consider myself a smoker who is sensitive to those around me. I don't smoke in public areas; even where it is allowed I am careful to insure I'm not bothering others. I don't throw my butts on the ground. I do smoke in the privacy of my own apartment, in my car and in my boat. I want to thank the four people who have posted here so far for supporting individual freedom--especially the non-smokers among them. I also want to encourage all of you reading this who are smokers like me to double your efforts at being sensitive to the concerns of non-smokers. It truly is a two way street. However, unfortunately, I will be willing to bet that given the attitudes on the majority of the current City Council, they will eventually pass such an ordinance--especially if the two wannabes see it as a good political move.

Posted by Stop the madness, a resident of the Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park neighborhood, on Oct 26, 2009 at 5:08 pm

Something about guns and ciggies brings out the yahoo in people, it seems. Not a single word in the above comments about the danger of second-hand smoke to those who are forced to inhale it as it wafts into their apartments. It's all the tired Freedom-to-the-Individual-Let-Freedom-Reign-Government-is-the-Problem etc etc etc that we've heard far too many times when the discussion turns to trying to act on behalf of the public good.

We are a society doomed to re-live the Dark Ages if we can't even establish policy based on science to protect the health and welfare of our people.

Posted by fed up, a resident of the Atherton: Lloyden Park neighborhood, on Oct 26, 2009 at 8:26 pm

Stop the madness, you're right we're are heading for the dark ages. Forget that it's amazingly rare to see people smoke in this area largely because people are taking resposibility to take better care of themselves. But back to the Dark Ages - that's exactly where we are heading with the reduced economic standards that are being imposed by more and more taxes and regulation. We're on our way!

Posted by Been there, a resident of the Menlo Park: Downtown neighborhood, on Oct 27, 2009 at 11:13 am

Are we moving into a government that dictates everything we do? Will we end up with a city like Berkeley where if it is not prohibited it is mandated. I am a former smoker and this goes way too far. Menlo Park Council, spend you time supplying public services not dictating peoples lives.

Posted by Ol' Homeboy, a resident of the Menlo Park: Allied Arts/Stanford Park neighborhood, on Oct 28, 2009 at 4:03 pm

Boy, now here's a great use of our city council's time. [Portion removed] Why is it necessary to get our local government involved in her personal vendetta against smokers. This should be shelved.

[Portion removed]

Posted by G.A.S.P., a resident of the Atherton: West Atherton neighborhood, on Oct 28, 2009 at 7:10 pm

Anybody remember this acronym? That was a sensible group, back in the '70s and '80's, called "Group Against Smoking Pollution". They didn't ask for big-brother government to come into private homes to stop people from smoking. They only believed that "smoking should be limited to consenting adults in private". What is more private than one's own home? I'm not a smoker, and I'd never patronize any business where smoking was allowed, but I would never endorse the government stepping in to control ANYTHING one does in the privacy of their own home, be it a condo or apartment. If children are present in a family of smokers, that's a whole 'nother story and should be dealt with in a separate conversation.

Posted by Steve C, a resident of the Menlo Park: Sharon Heights neighborhood, on Nov 1, 2009 at 8:24 am

Another smoke Nazi at work. Why not invite the Taliban to the Meeting? They're experts at banning personal freedoms, I understand. I suppose she teaches her children that Gandalf and Strider were evil because they smoked pipes. Flee you fools, flee!!!

Posted by Wheezy, a resident of the Menlo Park: Linfield Oaks neighborhood, on Nov 2, 2009 at 7:52 am

I would agree that the government has no business telling us we can't smoke in our own homes, if indeed the smoke was confined to your own four walls. But when you live in an apartment/condo, and someone elses' smoke comes in through a shared ventilation system, that's quite a different story. Why should that stench fill my home?