‘Council Seeks New Ban on Smoking by Parents in Cars’

Councilor Gennaro has, perhaps inadvertently, disclosed the true aim of his new legislation targeting smokers [New York, “Council Seeks New Ban on Smoking by Parents in Cars,” August 15, 2007].

He says his proposed legislation is intended to “denormalize”smoking.

In the face of not only a lack of evidence, but a lack of rigorous scientific efforts to gather such evidence supporting this initiative, Mr. Gennaro is looking to do what has already been done and accepted several times since Mayor Bloomberg took office: to use legislation as a tool for excessive behavioral modification.

When the City Council has considered such legislation in the past, scientific evidence contrary to the assertions of public health officials and special interest groups has been dismissed, ignored, and attacked as being created to serve corporate America.

If Mr. Gennaro is interested in protecting minors from lower respiratory diseases, perhaps he should heed the empirical evidence showing that the smoke from cooking red meat contains a higher volume and greater number of harmful substances than tobacco smoke, and propose legislation barring children from being in the proximity of such dangers as found in kitchens, backyards, and sidewalk food vendors.

Ben Hirsch
New York, N.Y.

‘A Modern Willkie?’

As written, your “Modern Willkie” story comparing Mayor Bloomberg’s situation with the 1940 Republican candidate fails on a key point: Willkie sought and won the nomination of one of the two established parties, an entirely different set of odds than mounting an independent candidacy [Editorial, “A Modern Willkie?” August 17, 2007].

However, with a slight modification it raises a fascinating possibility.

Mr. Bloomberg is a lifelong liberal Democrat who assumed the Republican In Name Only role solely for the purpose of securing a nomination. Instead of contemplating a Ross Perot loner charge against the windmill, why doesn’t Mr. Bloomberg declare for the Democratic nomination?

Now, that would open some interesting possibilities.

Chief among them is that Democrats would finally be offered a serious candidate with actual big-time managerial experience — as opposed to the thin resumes of the two Senatorial frontrunners presently leading the Democratic pack. In the general election many of the critical independent voters who are uncomfortable with the prospect of yet another Clinton era or the thought of Obama taking his on-the-job training in the Oval Office would find the Bloomberg mix of competence and liberalism a more attractive option.

Even Republicans would sleep better knowing that if a Democrat won, the presidency would at least be in proficient hands instead of either Clinton Redux or the American Idol presidential auditions.

George Schiele
Greenwich Conn.

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