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Several South Bay cities get poor grades on tobacco policies
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International:
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Source:http://www.dailybreeze.com/,2009-10-16
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A report card scoring anti-tobacco efforts by cities throughout the state was met with skepticism Tuesday by officials of the South Bay cities that received poor to failing grades.
"Ouch, why?" asked El Segundo Mayor Kelly McDowell upon learning his city earned a D in the American Lung Association of California's scoring of almost 300 cities' anti-smoking policies.
Fret not, mayor: No South Bay community received a grade higher than a C in the 2008 State of Tobacco Control report, which assessed communities' policies toward smoke-free outdoor air, smoke-free housing and reducing sales of tobacco products.
Lawndale, Palos Verdes Estates, Redondo Beach, Rolling Hills Estates and Torrance all earned overall F grades on the report released Tuesday.
Manhattan Beach and Rancho Palos Verdes joined El Segundo in receiving D grades.
And Carson, Gardena, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Lomita, Los Angeles and Rolling Hills all earned Cs in their overall efforts to control tobacco in town.
"My printable reaction is there might be something wrong with the survey because we have been diligent about reducing tobacco sales and smoking in El Segundo," McDowell said.
Indeed, El Segundo in October banned smoking inside private units and common areas of its publicly owned senior housing complex, and, in July 2005, became one of the first South Bay cities to ban smoking on its beach.
Redondo Beach, which failed the association's report, passed a similar prohibition in October, making it illegal to puff on any South Bay sand.
At the same time, the city also banned smoking in city parks.
Rolling Hills Estates City Councilman Frank Zerunyan was also skeptical of his city's failing grade Tuesday, calling the report "nonsense."
"Well, it's pretty silly," he said. "I don't smoke, none of my friends smoke, and, frankly, I hardly notice anyone smoking in our city or in any of our establishments."
With no apartment buildings and limited multifamily housing in the small city, Zerunyan questioned how well the association's criteria applied to Rolling Hills Estates.
Manhattan Beach Mayor Richard Montgomery was disappointed in his city's D grade, citing Manhattan's beach smoking ban and strict environmental policies as evidence of its commitment to the health of its residents.
"I was disappointed when I heard that we've received such a low grade," he said.
Montgomery also balked at the association's suggestion that cities should attempt to curb tobacco sales in an economic climate where communities are struggling for cash.
"That to me is a double-edged sword," he said. "Do you want the city to lose revenue at a time when the cities are scrambling for revenue because you want to restrict people's right to smoke cigarettes?"
Overall, the report decided that though the state stands as the nation's leader for indoor smoke-free air laws - it was first in the nation to prohibit smoking in workplaces, restaurants and bars in 1995 - dozens of Southern California cities should do more to stomp out tobacco products smoked and sold in their towns.
It ruled that many cities have their homework cut out for them when it comes to protecting residents against secondhand smoke in multi-unit housing and outdoor environments.
"We are now looking at protecting people and public health at outdoor venues," said Kimberly Weich Reusche, the organization's Center for Tobacco Policy and Organizing director. "We know, and the evidence is clear, that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke."
Glendale earned the only A in the report in Los Angeles County.
The high grade had
Glendale officials beaming
Tuesday after imposing a strict anti-smoking ordinance Nov. 6 that limits exposure to unwanted secondhand smoke across the city, including parks, parking lots, enclosed public areas and common areas in apartment buildings.
Now the city plans to hire a fresh air ambassador to visit apartments, restaurants and bars and engage the public about the ordinance, said Steven Koszis, Glendale administrative analyst.
"We're surprised that we're the only A," said Koszis. "But it's a strong position that the city council has made to providing fresh air to residents." |
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