We’re talking about 14 miles of beaches and 1,700 parks. The vote was 36-12, and Mayor Michael Bloomberg (champion of smokefree workplaces and early pioneer in making big cities smokefree) is expected to sign it [...]]]> The New York City Council has voted overwhelmingly to make that city’s parks and beaches – including Times Square — smokefree.

We’re talking about 14 miles of beaches and 1,700 parks. The vote was 36-12, and Mayor Michael Bloomberg (champion of smokefree workplaces and early pioneer in making big cities smokefree) is expected to sign it into law.

The reason for the move? Secondhand smoke is a known health hazard. There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke.

It would be great if Washington, D.C., followed suit.

“When you ask [...]]]> New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is considering making parks and beaches smokefree, The New York Times reports. Not only for health reasons — secondhand smoke drifts, he notes — but for litter reasons too (I’ve never quite understood why smokers who toss butts on the ground think the world is their ashtray).

“When you ask people in our parks and beaches,” Bloomberg said, “they say they just don’t want smokers there.”

New York City wouldn’t be breaking any new ground with this – hundreds of cities have smokefree parks, smokefree beaches, and smokefree zoos.

Wouldn’t it be great if Washington, D.C., did that next?