Pioneer Courthouse Square, the 40,000-square-foot gathering spot in downtown Portland, could soon be free of smoke.

Though a formal proposal has yet to reach his desk, Portland Commissioner Dan Saltzman says he fully supports the idea. "The square is our living room, and it should be smoke-free." Full Article

As I've said in other posts, I'm vehemently against legislating smoking in private establishments such as bars on the basis that the public does not own the bar or the space that it is in, the bar owner and/or landlord does. However, Pioneer Square is owned by the public. By and large, a majority of the public does not smoke, and the public should have the ultimate say on what kind of behavior is acceptable on public property. So, while I would vote "no" on the ban, I wouldn't bitch about it like I would if Portland got all nanny statist and passed a law that banned smoking in bars.

And if I see any comments "but the workers...blah blah blah", "my right to be in a smoke free bar blah blah blah" I'm going to kick a puppy, feast on foie gras, then buy a Hummer and drive it around the block billion times while bumping Chamillionaire out of spite. You fucks choose where you are going to work and choose where you are going to drink. Vote with your pamphlets on public issues, vote with your dollars on private business issues. Idiots. God damnit.