Getting Those Nasty Butts Off the Streets

As an ex-smoker, I am also disgusted by the idea of thousands of cigarette butts littering the streets and ultimately being swept into the ocean (“Litterbugs and Butts,” letter, Aug. 26). I am confused, however, about what smokers in largely pedestrian areas such as Westwood, Venice, the promenades in Santa Monica and Pasadena, and State Street in Santa Barbara are supposed to do with their smoldering butts.

Your letter writer suggests putting them in trash cans. Just how many trash fires per block would he like to see on an average day?

On a recent trip to Sydney, Australia, I noticed that the city has placed hotel-style ashtrays filled with sand on sidewalks throughout the central business district and the historic area called “the Rocks.” Smokers obviously use them; I almost never saw cigarette butts crushed out on the streets or sidewalks in this delightfully clean and friendly city.

I know it may smack of “enabling” to rabidly anti-smoking Californians, but if we really want to keep the streets clean of this noxious litter, it might be a good idea to give smokers (including many foreign tourists) a safe and handy place to dispose of their used cigarettes.

Ken Grimwood

Santa Barbara

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I take great offense at categorizing all smokers as litterbugs. I’m 33 years old, have been smoking since I was 12 and live a very active and clean lifestyle. I am totally aware of my environment and never litter.

I live on Pacific Coast Highway and consistently have to pick up cigarette butts from adolescents, tourists and people from the Valley who think my carport is an ashtray. I know all about it.

So why not complain about the tremendous amount of exhaust fumes on our freeways, not to mention the daily carjackings, murders, rapes, kidnappings, etc.? I’m simply sick and tired of these health snobs telling me how to live my life and referring to me as a litterbug simply because I smoke.

Kale C. Munoz

Malibu