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City Council to Vote on Outdoor Smoking Ban

By DNAinfo Staff on February 1, 2011 7:28pm  | Updated on February 2, 2011 6:37am

By Jill Colvin

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

MANHATTAN — The City Council is set to vote Wednesday on a controversial plan to snuff out smoking in city parks, beaches and public plazas.

The proposal, which is sponsored by a slew of high-profile council members, including City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, and has the support of the mayor, would bar smoking in all city parks, beaches and pedestrian plazas, including Times Square.

Smokers and smoking rights’ advocates have slammed the bill as an infringement on their freedom, with some even warning lawmakers to expect violent clashes if the law is passed.

But City Councilwoman Gale Brewer, a strong proponent of the bill, said that the council faced similar opposition when the city passed its landmark smoking ban in bars and restaurants, which she said had quickly passed.

The council is set to vote on the bill Wednesday afternoon following a 10 a.m. hearing.