No More Smoke On Clearwater

(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

No more Smoke On Clearwater. See what I did there? Smoking and vaping are banned in Clearwater Beach parks and on the sand to protect public health and reduce toxic litter from cigarette butts. The City Council passed the ban unanimously, focusing on education rather than punishment for violators.

The police department will use signs, educational materials, and a social media campaign to inform visitors about the rule. Other Florida cities and counties are implementing similar bans after a change in state law, except for cigars.

Some Council members proposed designated smoking areas, but logistical challenges led to the decision to ban smoking on the beach. Cigarette butts are a major source of ocean litter and contain non-degradable microplastics. The ban's success depends on the quality of the accompanying education campaign. St. Petersburg implemented a smoking ban in January, with efforts to raise awareness and change behavior. No more Smoke on Clearwater beach should help keep the sand clean and marine life safe.

Clearwater Beach aims to address cigarette butt litter beyond the sand and water. Changing behavior and attitudes is crucial to effectively reduce cigarette litter. The city is working on updating signs and does not have a count of warnings or violations yet. Efforts should focus on changing behavior and attitudes towards littering rather than just enforcing. TBT

20 New Howard Frankland Bridge Pics from the Air

The new southbound / westbound lanes of the Howard Frankland Bridge are coming along. It will be 8 lanes wide with four general use and four express lanes.

As of April, approximately 85% of all piling had been driven, 360 of the 549 bridge columns had been completed. and 29 of the 113 bridge decks had been placed. Once the new bridge is built and all traffic is moved to the final alignment, the existing northbound/eastbound (St. Petersburg to Tampa) bridge will be removed.

All is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. Here's a look at the work from above from pictures taken last month.