By Steve Patterson UrbanReviewSTL

"Smokers are noisy & trashy.  So says smoking advocate Bill Hannegan in emails arguing against smoke-free public spaces.  Smokers are so bad we are best advised to keep them indoors rather than unleashing, he suggests.

Recent communication to Gary Weigert, President of the St. Louis Police Officers' Association:

I am writing to warn you about the smoking ban proposed by Alderman Lyda Krewson and currently being considered by the St. Louis Board of Aldermen's Health and Human Services Committee. Unlike the smoking ban proposed in St. Louis County, the St. Louis City Smoke Free Air Act of 2009 would ban smoking in all work vehicles. This ordinance would require St. Louis City police officers to park and exit their patrol cars in order to smoke. Given the dangers police officers are subject to when patrolling the streets of St. Louis City, this seems like an unreasonable and special restriction the St. Louis Police Officers Association should protest. Again, the proposed St. Louis County smoking ban contains no such restriction.

I'd say a non-smoking employee should not be forced to endure the smoke of a co-worker.  Citizens who sit in a police car while filing a complaint should also not be subjected to the smoke of an officer.  Our city vehicles should not be damaged by the smoking habit of employees..."READ THE FULL STORY HERE.