Smokers discriminated against in Rehoboth

I have been coming to Rehoboth for quite a number of years. We were not told anything about a smoke-free Boardwalk when we made reservations and paid for the condo in full. I think by law all condos and hotels/motels should be required to tell their guests that a given area has gone smoke free before they take any money

It’s a good thing I looked on the City Of Rehoboth website before our trip there - that only being a short time away now - or I would have come into Rehoboth with quite the shocker...

The City of Rehoboth has gone way too far, seeing that a lot of condos/hotels and all restaurants are 100 percent nonsmoking, and now you can't go out of your room to have a smoke on the Boardwalk in the open air. Wow - really?

I can understand if there was a $75 fine for littering. People should know better than to litter, but don’t take it out on just the smokers.

When people are indoors, smoking should be restricted, but when it comes to smoking outside in the open air, it is nothing more than a witch hunt.

I feal as if the city has in some ways violated all smokers' civil rights. Now under the U.S. Constitution each U.S. citizen has the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and civil rights are the rights of individuals to receive equal treatment and to be free from unfair treatment.

It is 100 percent unfair treatment when we are made to stand in a very small area on the hot sand, and sometimes my legs hurt me and I need to sit down from time to time. Now I can's sit to have a smoke on beach, and I am made to feel like a scolded schoolchild just to have a smoke outside in the open air. How unfair is that?

There should be at least 1 bench along the Boardwalk with an area of five feet on the right and left sides and seven feet back. As to the Bandstand and the sitting area only - yes keep it no smoking; as to sidewalks going down Rehoboth Avenue on each side of the Bandstand there should be smoking and the same for the outside sitting area in front of the Bandstand where the restrooms are, where the benches are facing up Rehoboth Avenue,

My point is there is nowhere for a smoker to sit down and enjoy seeing the ocean and have a smoke and that is unfair treatment.

I bet someone will send a letter going on about how smoking is the sole reason for cancer. But I am not nor will I debate the ins and outs of cancer. But I am saying that all people should have the right to sit down and look out over the ocean and have a smoke or a cool drink of soda.

My hope is something will change quickly. My bet is nothing will change for smokers nor will anyone care, so in this case the best I can do for next year is find a place where smokers are a bit more welcome. It’s sad, but for now it’s not Rehoboth. If you are proud of your no smoking areas then let smokers know it loud and clear before they book or rent a place at the beach.

There will always be prejudiced people, but when the rights of even one American is in danger of being violated or one group of people are being unfairly treated we all stand to lose, for today it’s smokers and tomorrow it can be you!

Nathan Reckart
Somerset, Pa.