Sizzling over Great Neck smoking ban

Regarding "Smoking on the sidewalk; Illegal in Great Neck Village" [News, Jan. 6], I feel that the smoking ban sends a positive message, though it has received mixed reviews.

Since so many complaints were heard about smokers disrupting the satisfaction of business owners and their customers, I feel that the ban was necessary to improve the overall well-being of the community. It not only keeps the village a cleaner place, but also prevents secondhand smoke.

Susannah Scully

Baldwin

I totally support the ban. Granted, as a state, New York has made great strides when it comes to banning smoking in public places, but that didn't solve the problem. These business owners don't need a nasty habit contributing to the loss of business.

There's nothing worse that going to get a bagel on a Sunday and your bagels now smell like cigarette smoke because someone was smoking outside.

People who do not smoke shouldn't have to deal with the effects of someone else's bad habits. Smoking outside of stores and in parks is basically saying, let's all share the potential of getting lung cancer.

One day, maybe, smoking will be banned everywhere. There are really two options here: Be a smoker and have limited places where you can smoke, or just not smoke at all and live a healthy life.

Annelise Campbell

Valley Stream

This law is unacceptable. First of all, Great Neck Mayor Ralph J. Kreitzman assures us that there is no constitutional right to smoke so there will not be legal issues with the ban. But it should be up to the individual whether he or she wants to smoke. If he or she does choose to smoke, they should be able to outdoors. I have never heard of someone getting sick from the secondhand smoke they've picked up walking past someone on the sidewalk.

The laws being passed are getting a little ridiculous.

Jake Miller

Freeport

I wish to commend the Great Neck Village trustees. The law is a pioneering step toward freeing the general population from the detrimental effects of secondhand smoke.

Other villages and communities can use the law and its penalties as a basis for writing their own laws to restrict smoking. Little by little, we can make the effects of secondhand smoke negligible in our communities.

Kelly Ulbricht

Wantagh

I feel that this new law will be very hard to enforce. Great Neck does not have police to walk up and down this strip of land all day looking for smokers on the sidewalk.

I also feel that even though it does hurt the businesses that are inside of the shops, a person should not be allowed to tell another person that they cannot smoke outside on a sidewalk.

Louis Cotrone

Hicksville

Personally, I feel that this new law is great. If Great Neck does indeed have a problem enforcing this law, then something needs to be done about it. Perhaps the county can designate a few police officers until the law begins to be acknowledged by the public.

Elizabeth Paul

Franklin Square

Why doesn't the village ban cars and trucks? They should close all restaurants that sell red meat. They should only allow organic vegetables to be sold. Are there any bars in this town? Close 'em down!

One of the businesses that complained is a dry cleaner. Has anyone walked into a dry cleaner and smelled the chemicals they use - and we wear?

Suggestion to all villages, towns, states and Washington: Leave us alone!

Barrie Johnson

Rockville Centre

The American Lung Association in New York commends the Village of Great Neck for extending its ban on smoking in public places. Secondhand smoke is not merely a nuisance; it's a public health threat that is responsible for the deaths of 2,500 New Yorkers every year.

The U.S. surgeon general recently issued a report that reaffirmed that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. It's time that more local governments took heed of this warning and passed strong laws protecting their residents.

Elected officials must continue to act decisively against the tobacco epidemic and implement aggressive measures that reduce the burden of tobacco-related disease. We will continue working to ensure others follow suit.

Scott T. Santarella

Hauppauge

Editor's note: The writer is president of the American Lung Association in New York.

I work on Middle Neck Road for Northeast Plumbing Supply and have experienced many people ditching their butts before they walk in, and it seems the smoke follows them in.

This law might be difficult to enforce, that's why I think we all should be the smoking police and warn those who light up that it is against the law on Middle Neck Road. Maybe there will be those who will not light up that cancer stick.

Let me say this to Mayor Kreitzman, "Bravo." Great Neck has clean streets and now we will have clean air.

Frederick R. Bedell Jr.

Glen Oaks Village