New York City's Council really out-did themselves in 2006, banning 16 things and counting (pit-bulls are still pending). They banned everything from aluminum baseball bats to the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Baily Circus - and everything in between. Foie Gras? Banned. Trans-fats? Banned. Cell phones in upscale restaurants? Banned. Wal-Mart? Banned.
Apparently subscribing to the view that "common folk" are unable to arrive at sensible decisions on their own (and there is a case to be made for that view, as "common folk" elected these Council members to office), they've decided that the only humane thing to do is to increase the vigilance of the Nanny State. It's an interesting exercise to guess at what will be up for bans in the coming year. Meat or milk from cloned animals? Zoos? K-Mart? Parakeets? Macy's?