An ‘apparently confused council’ in Lakewood unanimously voted to approve alcohol in city parks two weeks after they’d said ‘no.’
“We will allow alcohol because we can make money from it,” complained Councilman Michael Brandstetter as reported in the Tacoma News Tribune January 19. Whereupon Brandstetter voted with the majority to keep parks alcohol-free.
But now the council has changed its mind.
Beer is in. Tobacco remains in too.
“I just don’t think we need somebody telling us what to do all the time, every day, everywhere we go,” Council Member Marie Barth said in backing off a ban on smoking and tobacco use in city parks, and added “expanding this to e-cigarettes, I just think we’re overreaching common sense.”
Meanwhile, “The Washington Times” reported March 4th that the city council of the second largest city in the nation voted to ban e-cigarettes in parks, Los Angeles joining New York City and others.
Call it a pilot project. If people have a picnic with a glass of beer or wine, lovely. If they smoke and deposit their cigarette butts in an appropriate receptacle, terrific! (Banning e-cigs is just stupid all around, banning steam in a park… Crazy.) If everyone takes care of the parks they will go on for years as an asset to the community. However if all of a sudden there are beer cans and bottles everywhere and cigarette butts where the children play then the topic may need to be revisited. It is ok to try things out and change your mind if necessary. Police in the park should be used for the safety of the citizens, not for chasing people down to decide if they are drinking beer or root beer in the park. You have my attention Lakewood City Council. I appreciate the effort to apply some common sense.
I agree with Mr. Adkins. Let’s encourage everyone to enjoy our parks and use courtesy and common sense.