One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Lawmakers Consider Smoking Ban in California's State Parks
Malibu Creek State Park (Photo by denisetaylor☼ via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr)
California could soon be the first state to ban smoking in its state parks system, as the Assembly votes today on a bill that aims to to reduce litter, secondhand smoke, and wildfire threats, according to the Huffington Post.
The bill's author is state Sen. Jenny Oropeza (D) of Long Beach, a cancer survivor who has seen her bill pass the senate and has high hopes for its success in the Assembly; she also believes it will be approved by California's "health-conscious" Governor. If signed into law, the bill would butt out smoking in all 279 of California's state parks, though "campsites and parking areas will be exempted from the ban."
State Parks who cannot afford to erect signs indicating the ban will be exempt; it is not clear at this time which parks would need such an exemption. If caught smoking within the park, violators would be subject to a $100 fine. Oropeza also believes that the bill will save the state money in the long run by lessening the likelihood a cigarette would spark a costly wildfire. The bill faces opposition from the tobacco industry. Last year the California Department of Parks and Recreation also opposed the bill because of the cost to put up signs, however they now have no position on the issue.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
