Defiant Smoking Scofflaws: "New York Is Kind Of Lame Now"

Bethany O'Grady/Gothamist

Although the city's Smoke Free Air Act—which prohibits the act of smoking in public parks, beaches, pedestrian plazas, the Brooklyn promenade and the concrete walk at Coney Island—went into effect today, cigarette smoking scofflaws in Union Square Park chose to boldly ignore Bloomberg's ban and blow smoke in the law's face. Through Newport scented clouds, we spoke with angry, disobedient puffers in the park.

In front of one of the newly-posted signs warning smokers to nix the nicotine, unemployed Harlem resident Bryan Daley vented his rage at the city to us, cigarette in hand. "I walk through the park every day," griped Daley. "I'm gonna stand outside of the park and smoke now, but this is the biggest bullshit I've ever seen in my life. It's more like communism every single day. New York City is becoming militarized every single day."

Daley put some of the city's rules and regulations pertaining to New Yorker's vices into counter-factual perspective for us, "I think it's between a $80 and $100 fine for smoking in the park, but, smoking marijuana is a $25 summons. A $2.25 fare jump is not a summons, you go to jail! You go to Riker's Island over $2.25! You get fined like $100 for smoking in the park!" The fine for smoking in public spaces is actually $50, and as Brooklyn resident Tyrell Daugherty told Metro, "$50 is a lot of money, that's like three packs of cigarettes."

Greenpoint personal trainer "Roberto" was unaware that the ban went into effect today and lamented, "I heard that it was going into effect sooner or later. It's ridiculous, we're outside. It's Bloomberg, he's a health freak, he even passed that thing about transfat." Roberto says he plans to submit to the strong arm of the law: "I don't want to get a ticket, I know what that's like. It used to be that you could drink in public with a bag over your can, now you can't. I've gotten tickets for that in the past. Smoking in the park is not worth it. I'll smoke on the street."

Meanwhile, in Methadone Alley, an NYPD officer stopped Julie, a writer living in downtown Manhattan, to reprimand her for violating the new law. No summons was issued, but Julie vehemently tells us, "New York is kind of lame now. My rights are my rights. If you're going to ban smoking outside, in a park, why not ban everything else that harms people. Ban taxis! And [the officer] didn't have to have an attitude with me. He could have been a little more jovial about confronting me. I mean, you're trying to take nicotine away from a smoker!"

By the way, the Smoke Free Air Act also applies to cigar smokers. As it happens, we've just learned that there will be a cigar smokers rally and act of disobedience at 5 p.m. in Paley Park today. And on Saturday May 28th at 2 p.m., smokers' rights advocate Audrey Silk is organizing a big smoke-in on the Boardwalk at Brighton 6th Street, Brooklyn.

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By Bethany O'Grady in News on May 23, 2011 3:05 PM

Comments [rss]

Guest

Smokers are filthy smelly inconsiderate drug addicts.

harleyrider1989

http://www.thefreesociety.org/...

Vinnie

Not to worry. all smokers will all die before non-smokers, it's a painfully slow miserable process, but eventually you will lose oxygen consumption in your breathing and the diminished capacity will cause a host of other medical health issues. Bottom line, count the cigarettes you smoke in a week. You just shortened your life by that number. Ignorance is bliss 6 feet under.

Mr. Know-It-All

This Julie, "a writer living living in downtown Manhattan," sounds like a real winner. Never mind the caliber of its museums, theater, opera, and symphony; the size and power of its publishing and finance industries; the collective talent of its artists, musicians, dancers, and writes; the renown of its colleges and universities; the quality of its restaurants and markets; the throbbing vitality of its streets; the vast diversity of its citizenry--New York City is now "kind of lame" because Julie can't practice, and subject the rest of us to, her filthy, pestilent, cancerous habit in its public parks. Ding bat.

Austin Scott Brooks

You gotta love the bravado of New Yorkers and what they expect from Manhattan living or expect not to find. What a way to protest!

pendejito

Bottom line, I'm going to continue to smoke in parks. I can be asked a million times to put it out by "concerned" New Yorkers, but will only listen to those in uniform that issue me a ticket, OR can take me out. So unless you are in uniform or can kick my ass, well continue whining.

Mr. Know-It-All

Can I whine while I kick your ass?

pendejito

If you whine about cigarette smoke in public parks, you probaby can't kick my ass.

Miles Bader

less smoking == more awesome

NYC is now more awesome! Yay!

[But I suppose some sympathy is in order; the desperation in these peoples' words is palpable...]

Guest

i think what should be palpable is that we're not going to comply with this nannystate bullshit. see you in the park, skipper.

jacqueline66

Wow what was that nasty comment for? Miles was sympathizing and you snap back with your hand grenade shot and see you in the park skipper comment. Makes smokers look even more out of balance.

edgie168

i like cheese. would you like it if i shared some with you? it'd go great with your whine.

Kimberley Truelove

This is probably the most entertaining thread I've ever read.

Chicken Underwear

When you complain that clean air laws are a violation of your civil liberties you are just doing the bidding of the tobacco industry.

da_phonz

It will be funny when people try to enforce the law in the state parks around NYC. I'll know them by heart and will be my destination for park time.

http://www.nysparks.com/parks/...

I think we can still light up on Lady Liberty's lawn.

xXxMExXx

Just keep smoking. The chances of you getting a ticket are extremely small. Besides, you get the added pleasure of pissing off all the uptight, whiney, assholes who can’t stand even the very sight of someone smoking!

pendejito

Exactly my thoughts! Unless you can write me a ticket or kick my ass, continue whining.

jacqueline66

Write back after your first few tickets and let me know if you feel the same way.

pendejito

Sure thing, as soon as I can find ONE of the only 200 park rangers, in this entire city, legally authorized to give me a ticket.

Until then I will keep smoking and telling people like you off, while smoking my cigarette in the park.

Don't like cigarette smoke? Move to the woods. I hear Maine is wonderful this time of year. This is New York, get used to it.