Smoke 'Em If You Golf 'Em

We San Franciscans may be a tolerant bunch, but there is one thing we cannot abide- Republicans. No wait, there’s one thing we cannot abide even more than Republicans- smokers. After banning smoking from workplaces and bars, the Board of Supervisors is working on the banning of smoking from public parks. Because we wouldn’t want poor little Timmy and poor little Suzy’s innocent and pure lungs to be befouled by second-hand smoke wafting it’s way through the great outdoors. The law would ban "inhaling, exhaling, burning or carrying any lighted smoking equipment for tobacco or any other weed or plant.” Hmm…wonder what they mean by “any other weed”? Violators will be fined upwards of $250 if caught.

Funny little thing about this law, though- it actually calls for the banning of smoking in every city park except one, the public golf course. Turns out that a high percentage of golfers- 30 to 40% by some estimates- like to smoke and the Supervisors, mainly Michaela Alioto-Pier who proposed the law, are afraid that all those smoking golfers might pick up their golf bags and clubs and head on off to the private courses where they could smoke away with impunity. It also might prevent any of those cash cows we like to call professional golf tournaments from happening here. Considering we have a budget crunch and those public golf courses bring in money, any loss of golfers would be bad. Needless to say, the proposal by Alioto-Pier has inflamed many bar owners because when they cried loss of business when threatened with the smoking ban, the city basically took their forefinger and thumb and made like they were playing the world’s smallest violin. When asked about the possible charges of hypocrisy, Alioto-Pier told the Chron's Matier & Ross “that's kind of an interesting way to look at it” and “don't nail me too hard on this.''

For all those concerned golfers, smokers and non-smokers out there, the Board of Supervisors will hold a meeting to discuss the issue on Wednesday. And for all you Peninsula readers out there, it looks like San Jose might be the next city to ban smoking in parks.