With the prospects of a possible ban on smoking by the City of New Orleans, it is hard to say whether or not the proposal has enough support or not. But, one thing is for sure, if we had to guess, Mayor Mitch Landrieu is totally supportive of this nanny-state policy.

First, let’s have a run down first on what the policy is and how it will damage New Orleans.

What: An ordinance which would ban smoking in all public places in the city, forcing businesses and bars to comply or else be fined. The city of New Orleans would easily turn into big government New York City, where smoking cigarettes is banned, well, everywhere. Already, there are over 100 businesses in the city which have banned smoking, so a smoking ban on businesses who want to run their business how they like is beyond overreaching. And forget about smoking in public parks, etc. You’re likely to get hit with a fine if this policy is approved.

Who: The New Orleans City Council member behind this ordinance is Latoya Cantrell (D). Cantrell has been endorsed by State Senator Karen Carter Peterson (D-New Orleans), so that should give you a clue on who she aligns herself with. Cantrell is following in typical liberal Michael Bloomberg’s footsteps, telling individuals how they should be living. And, Cantrell clearly sees no threat to tourism with this ordinance, though, the city’s famous Laissez–faire regulations on public drinking and smoking would be tarnished thanks to her smoking ban.

But, we suspect Cantrell is not acting alone in bringing a smoking ban to the city of New Orleans.

Mitch Landrieu has made it very clear how he feels about smoking in the past. Remember his proposed cigarette tax back in June? The plan failed three times and would have tripled the city’s current tobacco tax rate, which is 36 cents per pack to $1.11. Not to mention, this would make the city of New Orleans the only local government to have it’s own tobacco tax and would raise approximately $12 million to $18 million per year.

Cities like New York have ridiculously high cigarette tax rates, which now we know only leads to more police involvement, more government and more instances like the Eric Garner case, in which a black man was attacked and allegedly killed by NYPD officers for selling loose cigarettes.

Though Landrieu has not spoken publicly about this ordinance, it’s obvious this is a policy that would line up-perfectly with his ideology, which professes that elected officials know what is best for you.