City and county consider smoking ban

Eighth District Councilman Bernard Parks–citing studies that say secondhand smoke is the leading cause of preventable death in the country, particularly among non-smokers–introduced a motion and a resolution calling for a county-wide ban on smoking.
Both were introduced on Aug. 8, and sent on to committee.
The resolution is currently in the Rules and Government Committee and urges the City Council to pass a resolution asking the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to ban smoking in public areas including (but not limited to) indoor and outdoor businesses, hotels, parks, apartment common areas, restaurants, bars and beaches.
The motion was referred to the Arts, Parks, Health and Aging Committee and directs the City Attorney to prepare and present a second-hand smoking ordinance that would emulate what Parks proposed to the county.
Both pieces of the legislation have not yet been schedule for hearings because the council is currently on recess until September 2.