Forget about Smoking in Calabasas

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New research shows that second-hand smoke can cause the worst of diseases, so the City of Calabasas has banned smoking on sidewalks, streets, bus stops, parks--even apartment house balconies near pools or laundries. Starting Friday, if you smoke when somebody asks you not to, you can be fined, go to jail and be subject to lawsuits. The Mayor of Calabasas says that "irrefutable scientific evidence." Under his leadership, the City Council has unanimously adopted the toughest anti-smoking laws in the country to protect children and others from the dangers of second-hand smoke. One critic calls it "moralistic intolerance masquerading as public health." We hear a debate.
  • Making News: Murder Trial Begins for Aryan Brotherhood
    Federal prosecutors say members of the Aryan Brotherhood prison gang have committed 32 murders--while behind bars. Today, the first four of 16 gang leaders went on trial in Santa Ana, beginning an effort to put an end to the organization by winning multiple death sentences. John McDonald, who is reporting the story for the Orange County Register, is at the Santa Ana courthouse.

Orange County Register article on murder trial of Aryan Brotherhood

Calabasas' Comprehensive Second-Hand Smoke Control Ordinance

Cleveland Cancer Clinic

American Lung Association on secondhand smoke

Centers for Disease Control on secondhand smoke

Credits

Host:

Warren Olney

Producer:

Frances Anderton