Smell Flowers, Not Smoke in New York Public Parks

The NY Times sent an investigative reporter to Bryant Park to test the new city regulation banning smoking in parks and finds non-smoking park-goers incredibly tolerant toward smoking violations while smokers appear compliant with the regulation.

1 minute read

May 30, 2011, 7:00 AM PDT

By Irvin Dawid

It's a $50 violation, but if the reporter's observation of lack of real violations on the second day of the ban holds, this regulation won't be a money-maker for the city. More telling, though, was the decidedly lack of objection from those subject to inhaling 'illegal smoke'.

As a final test for the experiment, the reporter, lit cigarette in hand, approached a park security guard for directions.

"Yo, boss," this guard said. "Cigarette's gotta go."

"The guard reached into his pocket and withdrew a piece of paper, not much bigger than a baseball card. The paper, which announced the ban, said, "Smell flowers, not smoke."

Read the full story: Smoking Leisurely, and Illegally, in the Park

Wednesday, May 25, 2011 in The New York Times - N.Y. / Region

Government / Politics Humor New York Parks New York City Smoking Regulations Bryant Park View More

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