Alcohol in Parks: ‘No,’ Now ‘Yes.’ Smoking Ban Still ‘No.’

An ‘apparently confused council’ in Lakewood unanimously voted to approve alcohol in city parks two weeks after they’d said ‘no.’   

“We will allow alcohol because we can make money from it,” complained Councilman Michael Brandstetter as reported in the Tacoma News Tribune January 19.  Whereupon Brandstetter voted with the majority to keep parks alcohol-free.

But now the council has changed its mind. 

Beer is in.  Tobacco remains in too.

“I just don’t think we need somebody telling us what to do all the time, every day, everywhere we go,” Council Member Marie Barth said in backing off a ban on smoking and tobacco use in city parks, and added “expanding this to e-cigarettes, I just think we’re overreaching common sense.”

Meanwhile, “The Washington Times” reported March 4th that the city council of the second largest city in the nation voted to ban e-cigarettes in parks, Los Angeles joining New York City and others.