Spin Cycle

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy has vetoed a measure that would ban county employees from smoking outside government buildings, saying it "goes beyond the rule of reason."
In his veto message Friday, Levy said: "Expanding the restructions on smoking to the outdoors exceeds the point of reason and requires people to either go into the parking lot, street, or car in the middle of the day, even though they are not exposing non-smokers to the same risks as smoking indoors causes."
Edward Dumas, Levy's spokesman -- and a smoker who takes a periodic outdoor smoking break -- said he did not lobby the boss for a veto. "I did not in any way attempt to sway the county executive on this bill," he said.
The measure sponsored by Presiding Officer William Lindsay (D-Holbrook) was initially approved in an 18-0 vote and will come up for an override on Nov 20.

Rick Brand