The Cuomo administration is suspending its restrictions on smoking in parks, pools, beaches and historic sites after a smokers' rights groups objected. WAMC’s Dave Lucas reports.
The administration says Tuesday the measures will be voluntary for at least two months while a full rule-making process including public comment is concluded.
In the meantime, smokers' rights advocate Audrey Silk tells The Associated Press she wants the new signs prohibiting smoking taken down. The state parks department issued its order in April after the Legislature failed to approve laws that would restrict smoking to some areas of the public facilities this summer. Failure to obey could have resulted in a disorderly conduct arrest.
Silk had threatened to sue the state, saying the administrative action tried to overrule the Legislature and failed to consider opposing views.
Dave Lucas, WAMC News.
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