Thursday, December 20, 2012
The tobacco ban, Family Dollar rezoning and city council election are just a few things that made the Patch list.
What are some of the top government stories for 2012 in the greater Norcross area? Here's a compilation of the big ones. Annexation: The annexation of land east of Buford Highway may have passed last year, but it didn't take effect until Jan. 1, 2012. Roughly along Mitchell Road, the newer part of the city brought in new businesses and thousands of new residents, and it also increased the city's size from 4.2 square miles to 6.14 square miles. Family Dollar Rezoning: A Family Dollar was being proposed near a residential area of Beaver Ruin Road at the beginning of the year, but in order for the store to move in, the city would have had to rezone the area for general business use. After hearing concerns and disapproval from many residents…
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
The city council voted almost unanimously to make it illegal to puff on cigarettes, cigars or pipes.
A ban on smoking in Atlanta’s parks took one more step in becoming reality Monday as the city council voted almost unanimously to make it illegal to puff on cigarettes, cigars or pipes in "city parks, athletic fields, aquatic areas, golf courses, tennis courses, hiking/walking/biking trails, playgrounds, off-leash areas, and spectator and concession areas." District 6 City Councilman Alex Wan represents the Piedmont Park area and told Patch recently, “We keep investing in our parks and more and more people – kids and families – are starting to use them,” Wan said. “Certainly I respect the decision of those who choose to smoke … but more people are using our parks and we want to promote healthy living there.” Mayor Kasim Reed supports the …
Monday, July 16, 2012
The city of Atlanta is expected to vote this week on an outdoor ban on smoking. What do you think? Is this the right thing to do or an infringement on personal liberties?
The Atlanta City Council's Community Development and Human Resources Committee voted last Tuesday to send the wide-ranging ban on smoking in Atlanta parks and other recreation areas to the full city council for consideration as soon as Monday. If passed by the full council, the ban will have an impact on Atlanta's parks, playgrounds, athletic fields, aquatic areas, tennis courts, golf courses and walking trails. An exception was approved by the committee for the Chastain Park Amphitheater, Aaron's Amphitheater at Lakewood and Park Tavern at Piedmont Park. Atlantic Station began enforcing the ban July 14, just in time for the BB&T Open. Several local jurisdictions already have similar bans in place including the cities of Alpharetta, …
Thursday, January 5, 2012
The new policy bans people from smoking anywhere on campus, including in their own vehicles. Extreme?
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Thursday, January 5, 2012
Emory University is now completely tobacco free, the school announced on their website (and the Atlanta Business Chronicle reported). The ban, effective Jan. 1, means that no one can puff anywhere on campus, including in cars. The ban includes all interior spaces and "all outside property or grounds owned or wholly leased by Emory, including parking areas – this applies to private vehicles while they are on Emory property and Emory vehicles." What do you think? Is it a little extreme to stop people from smoking in their own cars? Or is it healthier for everyone to have a zero tolerance policy? Take the poll below and tell us in the comments!
Chuck Snow
12:30 pm on Monday, July 16, 2012
.I can remember sitting in the dugout when I played little league baseball smelling the smoke from our coaches smokes and wishing he'd take it somewhere else. I can't blame my smoking on them or my parents who both smoked. I realise that smoking was more acceptable in those days even the teachers had a smoking room as did most of the theaters. I believe there should be a smoking ban in all public… more ›