Santee Mayor Explains City's 'F for Freedom' Tobacco Grade

Also read the other side of the issue: a reply to the Mayor's letter.

I am writing in response to the American Lung Association's (ALA) March 4 letter (see the letter in the media box) regarding .

They may see it as a grade of "F" from their perspective, as our being graded a failure; I see this grade of "F" from our perspective as being the highest grade for "FREEDOM" we could earn. In Santee we believe in life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Our thinks long and hard before we restrict or take away one's freedom. If a smoker wants to blast their lungs out on cigarettes, that's their choice. If someone wants to light up in a park or public are, that's fine, if someone else complains, I expect the smoker to move away or put the thing out. We do allow smoking in public places, restaurants have the freedom to pick or choose having patio smoking, their FREEDOM of choice.

Youths that buy tobacco products are in violation of current law (Santee enforces tobacco and booze laws aggressively, Shoulder Tap program, etc.). We enforce the laws now and don't need a new on merchants to extort money from them, that's why we don't raise taxes in Santee, especially .

Multi-unit housing is private property. The property owners have the FREEDOM to set the smoking policy as they see fit. If renters don't like the policy, they move out or not rent in the first place. If it would give an owner competitive advantage, maybe they would have no-smoking units. The ALA is asking me to endorse having 75 percent of rental units as non-smoking by law. I would never pass a law either way! My bottom line in we don't need municipal government to play Nanny.

means a lot to Santee. If a smoker is rude or uncaring, I expect the person taking offense, to communicate with the rude one, and the rude one to once again move on or put it out. You may have all the laws in the world; ultimately it boils down to human interaction.

It would be very easy for me as mayor to be politically correct (most are) at worse or ignore ALA at best- not my style though. The above reasons are why I take great pride in our "F" for FREEDOM score. I have the FREEDOM to disagree with them. Unless I am voted out of office, or the majority of the votes to take away another dwindling FREEDOM by cracking down on smokers, I will always stand tall for less government intrusion in our lives.

Respectfully submitted,

Randy Voepel

Mayor, The Freedom loving City of Santee

See the ALS letter this is in response to in the media box.