Gossip: Protest on Bridge, Smoking Ban

A is a prickly subject, and the mayor's support for the hypothetical moratorium has stirred up some strong views. Like:

Laws should support the public interest; not punish minorities (smokers). Will someone suggest a minimum walking speed next, to clear the new smaller sidewalks of the slower moving, "loitering" seniors? Thank God our village has a history of restraining from using power rather than abusing it.

Conversely, there are those who support the ban:

I am in favor of a ban. If a couple has eaten in a smoke-free restaurant and then when they go outside as they take just a few steps down the skinnier-than-ever sidewalks, they are forced to inhale some acrid smoke from someone else.

And perhaps the pithiest sound bite:

Lunatics, do that and I won't go to Nyack anymore and spend money.

All in all, about 50 percent of Nyackers would support the ban, and 50 would be opposed, according to our . An interesting detail: those opposed generally aren't smokers—they just think the ban would be an abuse of power.

--

What stops traffic, requires four helicopters to solve and wrangles 295 likes on Facebook? . Check out a video, and the full story, of the protest . Not many folks sympathized with Michael Davitt (the dangler), though:

How many thousands of people are getting inconvenienced by this guy's little protest?!? Get him down and lock him away!

Or:

JUST CUT HIM DOWN.

Davitt ended up in police custody after dangling for three hours, but became free after .