No Smoking Outdoors in Santa Monica. Period

Beginning Thanksgiving day, there will be no smoking in all outdoor dining and bar patios in Santa Monica. No smoking at the Santa Monica Farmers Market. No smoking within a 20 foot perimeter of doorways and open windows. 

As a result of the Santa Monica City Council's decision to pass a no-smoking ordinance in most outdoor public places, residents and visitors who smoke, will have to take their lighters and Marlboros elsewhere. 

In addition to the areas already mentioned, the ordinance also bans smoking at bus stops, ATM machines and lines, movie lines and at the Santa Monica Third Street Promenade.

In conjunction with the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, the Santa Monica City Attorney's office sponsored a meeting for residents, business members and anyone else interested in attending the informational gathering to understand the impact of the new law.

The meeting was held at the Santa Monica Main Library in the Martin Luther King Jr. Auditorium.

This is not the first time the issue of smoking and where smokers should be allowed to smoke, has come up in the city. The Santa Monica City Council began cracking down on where smokers were allowed three years ago when councilmembers banned smoking in parks. This actions was followed by no smoking on the beach in 2004.

Since passage of the first law on parks, those against smoking viewed the city council's decision as a victory in the fight to end cigarette smoking and the negative effects caused by second hand smoke. However, those who smoke and even some who don't, say that the new ordinances restrict personal freedoms making it seem as though the only place someone can smoke is in their home.

The entire issue has raised much media attention over whether the law has gone to far in attempting to safe-guard non-smokers from second-hand smoke.