City Council expected to ban smoking in NYC parks

NEW YORK (AP) - New York City lawmakers are expected to vote to
extend the city's smoking ban to parks and beaches.
New York outlawed smoking in bars and restaurants in 2002.
The City Council is expected to vote Wednesday to broaden the
anti-smoking law to include parks.
The smoking ban would cover some 1,700 parks and 14 miles of
public beaches plus boardwalks, marinas and pedestrian plazas.
Backers of the ban say that even brief exposure to secondhand
smoke can pose health risks.
Many smokers say the law would infringe on their rights.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)