Mayor seeking 'common' ground on smoking ban

Rochester Mayor T.J. Jean ... would like smoking prohibited at least near playground equiupment (Courtesy photo)

ROCHESTER - Rochester Mayor T.J. Jean urged city councilors during a workshop on Tuesday to consider implementing some type of smoking ban on the Rochester Common, if not a total ban at least one that prohibits smoking near the playground area.

He said he often takes his sons to play there and when people light up near the playground the children playing there can smell it.

“We owe it to all the children to do something about it,” he added. “It’s not good.”

Jean also said he’d been contacted by several concerned residents in favor of implementing a smoking ban and said there was an online petition already under way.

Council members showed little interest in enacting a total ban on the common, but did seem open to at least a ban near the playground.

Councilor John Larochelle spoke in favor of some type of ban.

“You have a right to smoke,’ he said summing it up. “I have a right to breathe.’’

It was decided to send the proposal to Codes and Ordinances for its Sept. 5th meeting.