Several months ago I was approached by a representative of Danbury Hospital who asked if the City of Danbury could designate the sidewalks around the hospital as a smoke free zone.
Other cities and towns have set up similar zones around their hospitals.
After all, who wants to exit the hospital after having surgery or an illness and enter into a cloud of second hand smoke? The area immediately around Danbury Hospital should set the tone for healthy behavior, and everybody (including smokers) agree that smoking is unhealthy.
After reflecting on the request I decided to move forward with a smoking ban on the sidewalks that surround the hospital and added in Library Plaza adjacent to the Danbury Public Library.
Smoking is already banned in public buildings and schools in Danbury, but Library Plaza is not included in the ban and it attracts a significant number of smokers. In fact during a recent community celebration at the plaza, I noticed cigarette butts scattered all over the plaza.
I also noticed the children walking in out of the building and socializing in the plaza as well as many seniors doing the same. In many ways, Library Plaza has become a natural extension of the library.
Finally, the question was raised by my staff whether we should ask for an ordinance with fines attached, or take a softer approach with a resolution adopted by the Common Council.
I recommended the latter because I want the City to make a statement that smoking is not appropriate in these areas, but would leave the enforcement to signs that will be posted and staff to request the offender to either put the cigarette out or smoke outside the area.
The request was referred to committee by the Common Council, and I am sure that there will be some discussion about which approach to take and further study on the idea.
As someone who lost a loved one to lung cancer caused by smoking- and watched that person smoke right up until the day they passed, all the time wanting to quit, I know how difficult it is to quit.
I also recognize that some people just want to smoke.
That’s why I chose to ask the council to consider the softer approach.
Nobody is saying that you can’t smoke, just light up a little farther away from Danbury Hospital and from Library Plaza.
fine with that. symbolic if anything. as long as there aren’t any fines.
Comment by dave bonan — August 5th, 2009 @ 5:17 pm
Just another encroachment on our freedoms….there is always a next step I’m surprised at you, Mark….
Comment by Bob Dennison — August 6th, 2009 @ 9:52 am
I agree! Those who work at Boehringer Ingelheim have worked in a smoke free zone for years. If you want to smoke, you must physically leave the campus. If an area company can achieve this it would seem logical that a health care institution should be able to do this as well. As for the Library – there are lots of other places people can smoke – have that one area smoke free is a PLUS for downtown!
Comment by Maureen — August 8th, 2009 @ 9:54 pm
I am a smoker, and it is fine with me. People who smoke should realize that smoking is actaully a choice, some people choose to smoke and some people do not. Why not focus on more imporatant issues than get all worked up about this one. Just do it.
Comment by Pamela Hoster — August 10th, 2009 @ 12:45 pm