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# Smoking ban a law leading to another one
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/smoking-ban-a-law-leading-to-another-one-editor/
- Published: 2004-04-09T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T04:12:23.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import, Homeless

*By Ron Tansky Sherman Oaks*

Regarding Bill Bauer’s April 2 column on the City Council whimping out on key issues. The reason why politicians opt for easy solutions is that the tough ones offer more “resistance.”

Looking back, it was easier and cheaper to get an ordinance through requiring no smoking seating areas in restaurants. They tried it and it didn’t work because it was not well thought out.

But, at least the subject was broached, the public bought the “no smoking concept” and they moved on to the next step: No smoking in restaurants and bars. Later, no smoking in public buildings.

The same is true with gun control in Los Angeles. They really wanted to ban guns, but started with a ban on small “hide-a-guns,” and now require gun owners to sign for their purchases, even give their fingerprints.

It’s a bureaucratic red-tape-law that’s unlikely to catch a criminal who can do his or her shopping in an adjacent city. It is, after all, a prime example of wasting taxpayer’s dollars on policing an ill-conceived law that punishes the legitimate store owner and shopper.

I agree with Bauer on fireplaces. They should be banned. So, banning smoking on the beaches is just the first step along that path.

However, what they are doing is not disingenuous or inconsistent. While it may be what you call cowardly and hypocritical, it’s just plain politics and for most voters, less controversial. When things get controversial, they get expensive because all sides of the issue call in lobbyists, advertise, and try to persuade voters on the issue at hand.

I’ve always agreed with Bauer on the “homeless” situation. At some point, the council has to get serious about the situation. In my mind, it’s the one thing that tells me “not to visit Santa Monica” — especially the Third Street Promenade — when there are so many other popular venues available.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 9, 2004.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/040904.pdf?ref=smdp.com)