L.A. city councilman Jack Weiss is known around City Hall as a profligate issuer of press releases and, in the great tradition of Westside representatives, for pursuing myriad causes. His latest -- a smoking ban at Los Angeles beaches. He complains about cigarette butts in the sand (OK, maybe that's true) and about the dangers of second hand smoke (snickers). Could there be a place with less risk of second-hand smoke than in the wind at the ocean with acres of open sand all around? Says Weiss in yesterday's LAT:

"It's commonly accepted: One doesn't smoke at a restaurant," he said. "I want it to be commonly accepted that one doesn't smoke on the beach."

Cindy Miscikowski seconded his motion so now the city attorney will draft an ordinance for debate. Today, the Breeze follows up in the South Bay cities and says don't expect to see the smoking cops walking the strand giving tickets any time soon.