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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW AHS breaks ground on new field ... Jackson County elected officials to get pay raises ... Making ancient stories new again ... AHS breaks ground on new field ... Jackson County elected officials to get pay raises ... Making ancient stories new again ... GUEST OPINION Guest Opinion: Ban downtown smoking Comment By Ron Adams DailyTidings.com By Ron Adams Posted Mar. 29, 2016 at 12:01 AM By Ron Adams Posted Mar. 29, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News I’m in favor of a ban on smoking tobacco downtown. I applaud the Ashland City Council for considering this issue. I don’t want to dictate or criticize else’s lifestyle choices and freedom until their choice starts to infringe on my rights and the rights of the largely nonsmoking general population. I walk downtown frequently and am never happy to have to follow a smoker or two down the sidewalk or to run a gantlet of congregated, stationary smokers. If I am dining outside on a nice warm day or evening the last thing I want is to have to breathe somebody else’s tobacco smoke. Not only is the smoke unpleasant and annoying, it is dangerous to the health of everybody breathing it, and that’s not a theory. Everybody breathing it may include children, people with cancer, COPD, asthma, the elderly, and anybody that might be concerned about the effect of second-hand tobacco smoke on their health, if not their enjoyment of the beautiful surroundings. I’m very glad that smoking is not allowed in our lovely parks. Few people would want to see that ban lifted. I think it’s time to ban smoking in our picturesque downtown and Plaza area, too. What few tourists Ashland might lose because of a smoking ban downtown would probably be more than balanced by tourists attracted to Ashland because of a smoking ban. I think if there were signs downtown directing people’s attention to a local ordinance against smoking and thanking them for respecting it, there would be widespread compliance, just like there is for the rule against smoking in the parks. Sure, there will always be a few who don’t comply or feign ignorance. I have found that pointing out the sign to someone smoking in the park, for instance, usually prompts them to put it out or move themselves out. You don’t have to call the police. Just expect people to obey our city ordinances. We have a right to have the laws we choose. Over time people adjust to new rules. Remember when people used to smoke in grocery stores? Who would think of doing that now? I worked in a hospital admitting office in the late '60s. I’m still friends with one of the former admitting clerks and we laugh incredulously about how she would have an ashtray by her typewriter and chain smoke cigarettes all shift long while admitting patients. Nobody saw any harm in that. It was accepted. Who would think of doing that now? I think in the future it will seem pretty weird that we allowed a minority of people to put the majority’s health and enjoyment at risk for such a long time. We don’t allow marijuana smoke on city streets (although I prefer the smell of marijuana to tobacco smoke). Nobody should be exposed to either smoke unwillingly, though. Maybe tobacco smokers could indulge their habit wherever marijuana smokers do: in their home or some out-of-the-way place. A smoking area at the hotel or motel, maybe. Tobacco smokers can indulge in their cars. Maybe smoking areas could be established that the unwilling could avoid. Maybe bars and restaurants that want to cater to smoking employees and patrons should install airport-type smoking lounges inside or outside with an effective filtration system to protect the rest of us. In the end, I don’t think a public health and comfort policy should be driven by finding a place for smokers to smoke or worries that tourist dollars might be lost before protecting the public. Ron Adams lives in Ashland. By Ron Adams DailyTidings.com By Ron Adams Posted Mar. 29, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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