CITY LOOKS TO END SMOKING IN PUBLIC PARKS
When a Somerville resident caught his young daughter eating a
cigarette butt in a city park late last year, he reached out to
Alderwoman Rebekah L. Gerwirtz to see what could be done to keep
out smokers.
Gerwitz found the city had enacted a smoking ordinance in 2003
that only needed some tightening to include language
specifically banning smoking in public parks. The existing
ordinance outlawed smoking near monuments and public
playgrounds, and in public parks within 50 feet of people during
scheduled events.
"They're communal. We all have to share them," Gerwirtz said of
parks, noting the health hazard posed by the thousands of
chemicals in cigarettes and the city's limited public park
space. "This is one way to protect everybody who uses the
parks."
