It's tough work, but somebody's got to keep the blogosphere current on the mission-creep of the Santa Cruz City Council. Sad to say, the town that gave the world the most inspired sports team mascot ever - the UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs - is run by a bunch of socialist utopian nut-jobs.

Previously, I've called attention to a report on the council's wild menu of public policy objectives, including Rumsfeld-bashing, Bush-bashing, NASA oversight, and genetically modified foods.

More recently, I've warned the council's consideration of a beach smoking ban is encouraging talk of a total outdoor smoking ban in Santa Cruz.

But now....now....the Council might get into the movie ratings business. And yes, it has to do with smoking. Again.

SANTA CRUZ - The City Council was set...to discuss a resolution that seeks to put R ratings on all movies that show people puffing on cigarettes. But supporters of the resolution will have to wait until September, when the council returns from its summer recess. Mayor Scott Kennedy asked for the item to be postponed so more people can have a chance to comment on it.

....The UC San Francisco Center For Tobacco Control Research and Education proposed the resolution, which is intended to curtail teen smoking by diminishing teens’ exposure to smokers in films, particularly those that glamorize cigarettes or include tobacco product placements.

The center is asking that any movie with smoking in it get the R rating unless the person smoking is an historic figure, such as Winston Churchill, who had a cigar habit.

How about TV and cable shows, and teen cohorts who glamorize smoking? Will the Santa Cruz City Council slap an "R" rating on them, too?

What's next: city-funded health care for the sea lions under the pier downtown?

Posted by Matt Rosenberg at August 6, 2004 01:25 PM

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