Orlando Considering Public Park Smoking Ban

Mirroring similar laws made in other areas of the country, such as New York City, Orlando is considering instituting a public smoking ban in some parts of the city. The "Happiest Place on Earth" will be debating the issue at an upcoming city council meeting. The plan the city is considering would ban traditional cigarette smoking in many public places, but there was no indication as to whether or not the smokeless e cig would be included in the ban.

While many non-smokers are in favor of the ban, some smokers and local businesses are against it. "They'll buy a cigar, take a look at the sights, take a walk around Lake Eola, find a park bench and relax with a cigar," Says Jeff Borysiewicz, owner of Florida-based The Corona Cigar Company.

Mr. Borysiewicz worries that the new law could have the unintended result of axing jobs. Few individuals want to hear about the greater good when it means the elimination of positions in this down economy. "We built this store downtown, we believe in the revitalization in Orlando," Borysiewicz said while continuing to explain his position. He then posed the question: "what kind of message [does] that sends to our customers our employees?"

The question of whether or not the definite health benefits will be worth the possible economic losses is one that the people and politicians of Orlando will need to answer. If the locals want to breathe fresher air, though, they will have to eliminate the smoking of everything but the smoke-free electric cigarette.

Local Cynthia Fulwood is all about the proposed ban. "I'm for it; I'm not a smoker so I appreciate it when I don't have to breathe in the smoke I get migraines from it."

Mayor Buddy Dyer says the city of Orlando wants local control over smoking at its parks. "We would like to have the ability [to decide for ourselves] whether [or not] we want people smoking in playgrounds in Lake Eola and other parks in the city."

They'll face competition from business owners such as Mr. Borysiewicz who have sworn they'll fight the law, however. "When you do things like this, it just makes people have a second thought about coming down to have a cigar, and they can go outside the city, go smoke somewhere else and not have to worry about breaking the law or being harassed."

It will be interesting to see how this political fight plays out, as it seems that the nation's local governments are bound to rage back and forth on the issue until all Americans have given up smoking altogether or switched over to the e cig. But with 19 percent of Americans lighting up in 2010, we are not likely to arrive at that seeming eventuality in the near future.