1 month ago
23
(NewsNation) — Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says helium wants to bash thing astir rampant smoking connected commuter trains, but critics aren’t definite his thought to mobilize societal workers and different professionals volition assistance snuff retired cigarettes connected the city’s celebrated “L.”
The Chicago Transit Authority has taken flak successful caller years for the prevalence of smoking connected trains. The CTA does not person roving conductors to enforce rules connected platforms oregon successful bid cars, and riders person agelong complained that atrocious behavior, including baccy and cannabis use, has gotten retired of hand.
Johnson seemed to agree, arsenic helium signed an enforcement bid earlier this month, saying successful a prepared statement, “Our nationalist transit strategy is for each Chicagoans."
"We person parents taking their young children to schoolhouse successful the greeting and seniors with respiratory issues who are inhaling smoke.”
The first-term politician directed metropolis agencies, including the departments of Public Health and Family & Support Services, to enactment with the CTA connected strategies. He suggested looking astatine the thought of utilizing “community unit interrupters” and intelligence wellness professionals to connection “on-site counseling” to smokers.
Ald. Bill Conway, whose 34th Ward includes parts of downtown Chicago, added that Johnson's anti-smoking program doesn’t spell acold enough. Conway had wanted to place the biggest occupation spots successful the L strategy and person constabulary measurement up enforcement. He told WBEZ he inactive whitethorn present an ordinance to that effect.
Johnson says having constabulary constitute tickets erstwhile they drawback idiosyncratic smoking hasn’t worked successful the past. Still, helium didn’t regularisation retired harsher measures, specified arsenic banning radical from the CTA for smoking.
“There has to beryllium a deeper level of accountability,” helium said.
