{"id":157975,"date":"2026-01-31T12:38:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-31T12:38:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/157975\/"},"modified":"2026-01-31T12:38:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-31T12:38:09","slug":"logic-loses-on-smoking-ban-orange-county-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/157975\/","title":{"rendered":"Logic loses on smoking ban \u2013 ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE"},"content":{"rendered":"

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SECOND HAND SMOKE is a serious health hazard. The Garden Grove City Council this week missed a chance to protect those \u2013 including kids \u2013 who use our parks (Shutterstock).<\/p>\n

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes Dept. Tuesday\u2019s meeting of the Garden Grove City Council made for good drama, but did it make for good government?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>A proposal to ban smoking in city parks \u2013 which, frankly, in 2026, should be a slam-dunk \u2013 went from what looked like a quick, smooth approval into a detour onto bumpy roads leading to a dead end.<\/p>\n

Back in September 2025 the council voted 5-0 to have the city attorney draw up an ordinance on outlawing public puffing and vaping in the interests of clean lungs and cleaner turf.<\/p>\n

But if you don\u2019t have a strong argument against something, you \u2026 you know \u2026 create a fantasy defense of \u201cwell, you never know.\u201d<\/p>\n

Opponents \u2013 or skeptics \u2013 of the ban suggested that this was a civil rights issue, as if there\u2019s a clause in the Constitution guaranteeing your right to light carcinogenic fires and exhale their fumes freely in a place devoted to nature and health.<\/p>\n

No, smokers, the ACLU is not riding to your rescue on this one.<\/p>\n

Enforcement would be tough, it\u2019s said. There might be attempts at vigilante justice. Yes, of course, that\u2019s one of our big law enforcement problems in Garden Grove.<\/p>\n

Existing law already protects children from smoke in parks. Sure, a small distance from playground equipment. But that covers about 1 percent of the park. Any child straying more than 25 feet from the slides can get a lungful of smoke, yes, that\u2019s good enough.<\/p>\n

And to heck with anyone else who has breathing problems or medical conditions. If it bothers them, they can just leave. I mean smokers pay taxes, too? Shouldn\u2019t they have the right to sicken other people?<\/p>\n

And what could be wrong about \u201ctabling\u201d the matter? In the real world of politics, tabling something is akin to putting a stake through its heart and burying it at midnight in a graveyard. Ain\u2019t likely coming back soon.<\/p>\n

Aside from the logic \u2013 or the lack of it displayed \u2013 what struck me the most was the performance of Councilmember Joe DoVinh. He absolutely dominated the council meeting. He spoke in a commanding voice and looked directly into the camera, that is, at the TV audience watching at home. He repeated his points to drive them home.<\/p>\n

Mr. DoVinh \u2013 despite his vote \u2013 gets high marks for debating. The council as a whole, in terms of looking out for the public interest \u2026 not so much.<\/p>\n

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