The Burlington City Council extinguished a long-smoldering debate Monday, unanimously approving an ordinance to ban smoking in city parks — with exceptions.
The compromise measure prohibits lighting up along Burlington’s beaches and in neighborhood parks, but allows for designated smoking areas in larger parks, including Oakledge, Waterfront, Battery, North Beach and Leddy. The ban also encompasses City Hall Park, which had previously proved a flashpoint among councilors.
The final product required compromise from all sides, noted Councilor Dave Hartnett, an independent who sponsored the resolution. “I don’t think anyone was thrilled about giving in on this one,” he said.
It marked the final touch on what Republican councilor Kurt Wright dubbed “a long and winding road.”
As early as 2009, the council took up a resolution to ban smoking in parks, public beaches and along Church Street. The city ultimately banned smoking on Church Street in 2014, but voted down the prohibition in parks the following year.
Councilors on Monday breathed a collective sigh of relief at the passage of the resolution.
“This has been probably the hardest issue to resolve” on the Parks, Arts and Culture committee, said Democrat Karen Paul, who sits on the panel with Hartnett. She praised Burlington Parks, Recreation and Waterfront director Jesse Bridges for his effort to “make this work for all of us.”
In spite of the fanfare, the ban is, in fact, nothing new.
The parks and rec department already has a similar smoking ban which prohibits lighting up along beaches and in parks, Hartnett said. But the current laws have no teeth, he explained; most Burlingtonians aren’t even aware they exist.
“We don’t try to enforce, we don’t use signage. [They’re] a joke,” he said.
The city will erect “no smoking” signs in all city parks and also indicate where in the bigger parks smoking is allowed. Violators face a fine ranging from $50 to $200.
Hartnett had long opposed a smoking ban in City Hall Park, arguing that it disproportionately affects lower-income residents.
This time around, Hartnett said he found “overwhelming support” for the ban around the city after he visited neighborhood parks and conducted informal surveys of local residents.
“I was surprised about that,” he acknowledged.
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So in a city that wants to defy federal immigration laws they are now going to restrict smoking on public property. I’m not even a smoker but this seems nuts to me. I bet all the refugees that arrive will be so happy to find that they have been relocated to a place where they are not even free to smoke if they choose. Sounds a lot like the areas ISIS controls around the world where people can not consume alcohol and women can’t leave their homes without being completely covered and accompanied by a male. What a free and loving society the city council of Burlington is building. People it’s time to wake up and resist, take your city back from those that wish to control your every move. It starts with taking your cigarettes and will ends with them taking away your freedom.
There Citizen goes again; complaining. Not running for office to try and gain consensus from fellow citizens to support a desire for change, but complaining and running around like chicken little claiming the sky is falling. One wonders with all the complaining Citizen does, why Citizen stays here in VT if it is so bad, when there are 49 other states in the Union to move to, not to mention other countries if this one is so bad. But that would mean taking action and of course complaining is so much easier, especially when done anonymously. No personal responsibility at all.
Hey Matt using my “chicken little” reference from my post on the radical women running around Church Street crying about Trump will not work. You pretend to know me but you have no clue who I am. I am in the planning process as I write this of running for public office so I will be taking action soon. So rest easy I’ll be on the front lines fighting for the rights of all American citizens. And Matt are you even a native Vermonter or are you just a carpet bagger like your hero Bernie from jersey. I don’t see your name on any ballots. And Matt so you know if I were to move to another country I would do it in a legal way or I would get kicked out of said country because that is how the world works. Maybe it’s time to look up the word responsibility so you understand it definition.
Promises, promises Citizen. More empty promises from the Complainer-in-Chief. And if we were so gullible as to take you for your word, how would we know? You have to use your real name when filling Citizen. And we certainly know you aren’t running for Burlington City Council, because that filing deadline has passed. Not sure if you have to run for Dogcatcher though.
And who doesn’t know whom? Direct descendant here of Thomas Nelson Jr, who signed the Declaration of Independence, direct descendant of the original settler of Westminister West, VT, direct descendant of Ethan Allen and of VT’s 1st State’s Attorney for Chittenden County, Samuel Hitchcock, who just also happened to be a delegate to the convention in Bennington to ratify the Constitution in 1791. He drafted the charter to the University of Vermont and was a trustee of UVM until his death. He was Vt Attorney General, and was one of the Presidential electors at large for VT in the 2nd presidential election in 1793, casting a vote for George Washington and John Adams. He was appointed by Adams to be the District Court Judge of the United States for the District of Vermont, and judge of the Circuit Court of second circuit of the United States.
I myself have lived here since I was 4.
Booya.
So you are not native then Matt seeing as you where not born here. Not native just like I thought. Plus Ethan Allen was a scumbag. The founders of Vermont that you refer too must be looking down at us crying at what Vermont has become and how their descendants have gone so far to the left.
Booya back at ya.
Hahahahah, there you go again Citizen, trying to act superior for your ancestors having never left the state and seeing the world and yet in the same paragraph denigrating those that actually fought and founded this great State. Be sure to share that sentiment when you supposedly run for office.
And be sure to let us all know when you do get up that courage to run for office – that is to form a position substantiated by empirical data and not opinion, that you are willing to stand and defend without getting defensive and all superior-like and put to the voters. We’re all eager for that day Citizen, but none of us are holding our breath.
Hey Matt your ancestors stoll the land that makes up Vermont the from a bunch of native American people, and from both the states of New York and New Hampshire so that makes them both racist and dishonest land servayers. That’s is something to be proud of? By supporting this law that infringes on people’s rights it shows the apple sure did not fall far from its tree. And I would gladly have a public debate with you or any of your cronies so the facts can be brought to light. Maybe 7days could sponsor it. I would have no problem debating the issues that face our nation and state if it could be used to move Americans in a positive direction. And Matt try not letting me get under your skin to much it’s politics after all. I’ll be waiting to hear when our debate will take place.
Hahahahah oh that is so rich comrade Citizen and so Trumpian – bragging so much about being born in a State, but then condemning that very land as stolen from Native Americans. So very Trumpian. I’m sure that will get votes of both your supporters, provided there’s no election fraud.
Happy to debate you when you actually do run for elected office, which in your case, comrade Citizen, will more than likely be never, but be sure again to let us all know when that fictional date will be in your land of alternate facts comrade Citizen.
Matt you are very defensive you must be a liberal. You have made so many assumptions about me and my life that are incorrect. Why wait till I run for office to debate. Our founding fathers that you clam to be descended from encouraged debate amongst citizens so what are you afraid of other than being proven wrong and that all your beliefs are built off lies. So let’s put some effort in and put this debate together if you and I start the conversation maybe we could both put our ideas out to the public and get people thinking about how change happens in America and who knows but I bet we might even find some common ground we agree on. We could agree on let’s say 3 to 5 topics and debate it out. Or are you to afraid to face off with someone that opposes your crazy liberal thoughts. I’ll reach out to the staff at 7days and a few professors from around the state to moderate the event. So what do you say comrade? Let’s do this for America. And yes Matt you are correct I did leave the Democratic party after years of being disappointed by the lack of change they brought to the working class of this country. And I did vote for Trump hopping he might make positive changes in America. His first 19 days seem to have changed our country for the best by putting Americans 1st. What do you have against Americans?
More talk from comrade citizen. Is like summer in here with all the hot air. Yet still no action….I sense a definite pattern here.
I said I will debate you. Now, go put your name on a ballot. We’re waiting….
Come out, come out, whoever you are…
Hi @citizen and @Matt Kelly: We appreciate you discussing this article! At this point, it’s only you two commenting and it’s gotten waaaay off track. Please take it elsewhere or keep it on topic and civil no name calling! The next off-topic comment and we’ll just shut it down. Thanks again.
Wow, you really think a lot of people will follow this law?? Are they going to post a cop on each corner to watch every body? Will this also go for the ones smoking weed?? Hartnett comment about “that it disproportionately affects lower-income residents.”,, so it’s only the poor who smokes and the rich don’t smoke..Maybe he should get out more because a lot of upper income people smoke big time..
Donna you have to be rich to smoke at over $7 a pack.