GLENDALE, CALIF. BANS SMOKING

This is the great seal of the city of Glendale, California. A somewhat sleepy town nestled up onto the Angeles mountains, and spreading towards the city of Los Angeles. Known for the behemoth Glendale Galleria mall, it also boasts Brand Blvd., a collection of small shops that actually promote walking. Yes, walking in California! Its population boasts a predominantly Armenian population, known for their bakeries, fine dining, and hospitality.

Years ago, Glendale had adopted a ban on smoking that is rapidly becoming a heated city council battle. Like many Southern California townships, they voted to ban smoking. What is unlike any other local government, their ban was on the smoke created by restaurants cooking their meats on an outdoor grill.

You see, in recent weeks, the question of outdoor grilling has become a divisive political issue in Glendale. The city, which is 40% Armenian, elected an Armenian majority, three out of the five members to the City Council last year, and part of their agenda was to allow restaurants to grill outdoors. But they have been unable so far to win the four votes needed for passage. Obviously, this is something Armenian consider a slap at their culture.

The city's ordinance prohibits all outdoor commercial activity without a special permit and officials have concluded that outdoor grills fall under the rules. The city has received complaints from residents about the smoke from food being grilled outside banquet halls."Would you like to smell other peoples' food all day long?" asked longtime resident Nancy Campbell. "We were all OK stopping smoking in a lot of public places."

There a lot of fights that genuinely need fighting. This one just makes a laughing stock out of the entire city. The city council despirately needs to look up the word "freedom." Limit the hours of outdoor grilling, limit the days to the weekend, but let small business people alone to run their businesses and make a living. The only "smoke" being blown, is the ugly stench of their petty bigotry. The old time residents of Glendale are merely fighting back against an ever expanding Armenian population. Another 11% of the polulation, and the Armenians' will control the council anyway. Better to make a consiliatory jesture now, than suffer their retaliatory wrath later.