Let’s make one thing perfectly clear: We think smoking is a disgusting habit. Secondhand smoke is an irritant at best and a killer in the worst-case scenario.

But Los Altos’ recently approved smoking ban – prohibiting smoking virtually everywhere except in the privacy of one’s home – is misguided and pretty much a useless piece of legislation. While we appreciate the motivation behind it, it is a hollow law from a practical standpoint.

The Los Altos School District and the city of Mountain View are to be commended for cementing a partnership last week that will likely lead to establishing a 10th school site in the city’s San Antonio neighborhood.

Many hurdles lie ahead, including a potential legal fight from the preferred site’s current owners, but we appreciate two of our major local agencies coming together to address the projected growth and resulting needs of the area.

Note: This editorial has been updated to correct factual errors.

A healthy community fosters a forward-thinking approach while recognizing and appreciating its history. Los Altos is such a community.

The Downtown Vision project that is set to wrap up this year stands to establish an exciting blueprint for a vibrant city center in the decades ahead. On the history side, Los Altos boasts a state-of-the-art museum that is the envy of surrounding communities.

The majority of Los Altos City Councilmembers made the controversial (opponents might say foolhardy) decision last week to set the budget at $34.7 million for rebuilding Hillview Community Center.

They did so despite urgent calls not to from the city’s Financial Commission and the administrative services director in charge of the city’s finances. A consultant’s findings backed up the city’s experts.

The new state law legalizing marijuana has prompted cities like Los Altos to enact ordinances temporarily preventing commercial uses while leaders consider permanent regulations.

The Los Altos City Council’s recently approved urgency ordinance bans retail sales, but only until late November. Meanwhile, city staff have been asked to observe the impact of the law on other communities and report back. Of the options available, Los Altos could allow limited sales – one council member suggested along El Camino Real.

Los Altos School District officials were elated – and with good reason – after their announcement last month of a potential partnership with the city of Mountain View to purchase land in the high-density and densely populated San Antonio neighborhood for a 10th school site.

Their excitement was prompted in part by the prospect of collecting tens of millions of dollars by selling development rights on the purchased property, in addition to a financial contribution by the city for parkland at the site. The potential influx of funds could mean more of the $150 million in voter-approved Measure N money spent for upgrades at other schools.