New York City - Mayor Bloomberg pushing ahead to ban smoking in city parks and beaches..

October 3, 2009 - The city’s health commissioner, Dr. Thomas A. Farley, announced on Monday, September 14th that the Bloomberg administration would seek to ban smoking in city parks and beaches.

The mayor initially hedged when Health Commissioner Thomas Farley proposed the ban last month, saying enforcement would be difficult. But now Mayor Bloomberg says he's pushing ahead with a controversial plan to ban smoking at city parks and beaches, after earlier saying it needed more study.

"The public is overwhelmingly in favor of banning it in parks as well," Bloomberg told the Bay Terrace Community Alliance at a campaign forum in northeast Queens on Wednesday night. "So, you know, we'll get that done."

Bloomberg on Wednesday (October 1st) night: "If you're in the middle of a park by yourself in the middle of the night, I suppose nobody else is breathing that smoke." Bloomberg said Wednesday night. But if you're there with other people playing around, those people breathe it."

Controller William Thompson, Bloomberg's opponent, told the group later that he would pursue the ban if elected. Thompson: "The concept of a smoke-free park makes sense to me."

Reference: Mayor Bloomberg vows to snuff out smoking in parks, beaches by Adam Lisberg, NEW YORK DAILY NEWS CITY HALL BUREAU CHIEF, 10/1/2009.

NYC directly related: New York City - all retailers selling tobacco will be required to post warning signs..; New York City - to ask public opinion - smoking graphic warning signs; New York City - proposed pictorial warning signs to show the sickness and suffering caused by tobacco use.; New York City - may ban smoking in parks and beaches..; New York City - can't sue Internet cigarette retailers for lost taxes..; New CDC Chief Thomas R. Frieden, MD, MPH..; New York City Council ban candy-flavored tobacco, smoking outside of hospitals..; New York - city and state officials back off plans to crack down on cigarette black market..; New York City - nonsmokers exposed to cigarette smoke..; New York City - cigarettes more than $10- a- pack..; NYC can move forward with reservation cigarette lawsuit..; Michael Rubens Bloomberg - ELF Award winner 2008; NYC sues reservation smoke shops over bootlegging..; NYC Fights Smoking With Reality Images in Matchbooks..; NY City Can Proceed With Lawsuits Against 10 Online Cigarette Vendors..; NYC Warns Parents of Smoking Lawsuits...