By Khalida Sarwari
Beginning today, residents in Santa Cruz will not be allowed to smoke outdoors, according to the Santa Cruz County Tobacco Education Coalition.
The city’s ordinance, approved by the City Council on September 22, 2009, prohibits smoking on Pacific Avenue, Beach Street, between the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf and Third Street, West Cliff Drive, in all city parks, the Municipal Wharf and all outdoor dining areas in the city.
The new rules also increase the percentage of smoke-free hotel rooms from 75 to 90 percent, according to the Tobacco Education Coalition.
“There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke indoors or outdoors,” said Tobacco Education Coalition Chair Richard Salazar. “We’re grateful to Santa Cruz for protecting the health of our community and we hope that other local cities are inspired by Santa Cruz’s leadership.”
Violators will receive a warning during the first month of the new law, but may be fined after that.