Long Beach City Council Votes to Ban Smoking on Beaches, Boardwalk

LONG BEACH, NY - The Long Beach City Council unanimously voted to ban smoking in Ocean Beach Park at a meeting on Tuesday night.

The decision comes after a petition was started on Change.org to ban smoking in local parks, the boardwalk, beach, and Kennedy Plaza. The petition received 289 signatures.

After Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Smoke-Free Expanded Zones in New York State Parks in 2013, the city, which has the second cleanest beach in the nation according to the National Resources Defense Council, decided to join the "growing national health and environmental movement" by creating the smoke-free legislation, according to a message on the city's website.

"Across the country, legislation has been enacted to create smoke-free parks and beaches," the message reads. "There are 261 cities and counties that have smoke-free beach laws, and 1,263 cities and counties that have smoke free park laws."

Some residents are in favor of the ban, especially on the beach.

I have three children; we spend a lot of time on the beach, and you're breathing in fresh air and all of a sudden you smell the smoke,” local resident Stacey O’Connor told FiOS1 News.

However, some residents like Judy Buzzetta, believe that the ban is "ridiculous", according to the report.

“It's enough already with the smoking," she told FiOS1 News. "You know what? Let people smoke every once in a while. There are so few places that you can smoke.”

According to city officials, levels of secondhand smoke exposure outdoors can reach levels attained indoors depending upon the direction and amount of wind, and the number and proximity of smokers.

"In light of this fact, to protect the health and comfort of all patrons at the beach and parks, the City will be making these areas smoke-free zones," the city wrote.

Those who violate the ordinance may face a maximum fine of $500.