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No smoking in Portland parks starting this summer.
(The Associated Press)
Does anyone care?
We asked Portland Parks & Recreation officials what they've heard from the public in the past few weeks.
"We had one caller to the PP&R customer service center that I know about, voicing their disappointment. I haven't been able to find any other feedback," spokesman Mark Ross said in an email.
"It's not to say that rangers in the field or other customer service reps haven't also heard, but the volume hasn't been high enough that they see fit to raise any hubbub," Ross said.
The Oregonian/OregonLive's coverage earlier this month did prompt reaction from readers.
One recurring question: Will smoking be allowed at the Oregon Brewers Festival or other large waterfront events? (Answer: No, unless the City Council approves an ordinance granting an exception).
Ross pointed readers to the online frequently asked questions about the policy as a resource. In January, parks officials sent an email blast to 44,476 users registered with the popular bureau. The bureau received just 341 responses, the vast majority in favor of the move, according to parks director Mike Abbate.
Again: Does anyone care?
We had to listen back to a Feb. 11 public hearing on the proposal to find any dissidents. We also found a few additional nuggets. Here are a couple takeaways.
Recreational marijuana did play a role: Commissioner Amanda Fritz, who oversees the Parks Bureau, hinted that the timing of July 1 for enacting the smoking ban wasn't a coincidence. "I don't want anybody to have to be guessing what somebody is smoking," she said at the hearing. Recreational marijuana will be legal in July, but smoking in public places will remain illegal.
Testy enforcement exchange: Commissioner Dan Saltzman ultimately voted against the smoking ban, calling it "unenforceable." The week before the vote, he was even more vocal in his opposition. Check out this frosty exchange between Saltzman and Commissioner Amanda Fritz.
Saltzman: You can talk about, "Well, we're only going to educate people." But sooner or later, you've got to start writing tickets. Sooner or later, you're going to come to us and you're going to ask for more park rangers because people are getting into conflicts with one another, all sorts of things. So are you committing to us not to ask for any budgetary resources to increase park ranger staffing to enforce this?
Fritz: Yes.
Saltzman: Now and forever?
Fritz: Yes. We are asking for more money for parks rangers, but not for this.
Saltzman: What about enforceability? And I'm asking the parks director.
Abbate: Commissioner, I'll tell you that the single greatest force for enforcement is peer pressure, and making it clear to the public that smoking is not allowed sets a very clear standard and a very clear bar. We rely on the goodwill of the vast majority of our park users and once this gets publicized and we spend the time educating folks, I've got great confidence that this is one of those things that self-enforcement will take care of much of the problem.
"I am healthy. Very Healthy. I am not a criminal": Five people signed up and testified Feb. 11 to talk about the tobacco ban, and none was as passionate as Peter Garcia. Here are a few quotes from Garcia's testimony:
"There are a lot of lonely old people that don't have much enjoyment in their life, except a smoke, and they are not going to quit anytime soon.
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A great pleasure of mine is smoking my cigar, sitting at a Portland park and enjoying the beautiful day. ... I plan on continuing this wonderful joy for many years to come."
"I love Portland. I love cigars. I am not a criminal."
Alcohol ban on golf courses next: The tobacco ban includes one exception for city-owned golf courses. The golf courses, which are not supported by the general fund, will be able to apply for a special permit to allow smoking during golf tournaments.
Lee Hill, a longtime marshal at golf events and member of Portland's Golf Advisory Committee for 25 years, said enforcement will be difficult. He said alcohol is a much larger concern. "I've had a really tough time with people getting drunk," he said. "If you're concerned about tobacco, you should really be concerned about alcohol, too."
Fritz said she wasn't aware that drinking was allowed on golf courses. "I wasn't aware of that. That will be the next policy change," she added.
-- Andrew Theen
atheen@oregonian.com
503-294-4026
@cityhallwatch