By Ross porter Communications Director,San Diego American Lung Association
The Tobacco-Free Communities Coalition (TFCC) hails 2006 as a milestone year in the creation of a “Smoke-Free San Diego,” with the adoption more than a dozen new smoke-free policies by local governments, college campuses, and private venues.
“We’ve seen tremendous progress in a few short months toward smoke-free parks and beaches,” said Maylin Chavez, TFCC chair. “We have also seen major attractions go smoke-free, plus innovations in the licensure of tobacco merchants and the establishment of smoke-free patio dining in Chula Vista.”
Several key events took place in January 2006: a new tobacco merchant licensing ordinance took effect in Vista, while a spate of fatal cigarette-caused fires focused new attention on the need for “fire-safe” cigarettes. Del Mar joined Solana Beach in declaring smoke-free beaches and parks. (El Cajon and National City had also created smoke-free parks.)
Perhaps most important, on January 26, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) issued a finding that secondhand smoke is a toxic air pollutant, a landmark ruling that united the worlds of air pollution control and tobacco control. In San Diego, the consequences were almost immediate. An MSNBC online readers poll showed more than 2/3 of respondents in favor of the CARB declaration.
A major policy announcement soon followed from San Diego City Council members Scott Peters and Jim Madaffer: support for smoke-free beaches and parks in San Diego. Anti-litter and anti-tobacco advocates set to work to build support in community groups and town meetings for the anticipated vote at City Council.
On February 9, the Metropolitan Transit System board voted to ban smoking at bus stops, and a formal ordinance was adopted unanimously on Dec 14, establishing a 25-foot buffer zone around all MTS stops.
In March, the death of Dana Reeve, widow of Christopher Reeve, from lung cancer (though she had never smoked) renewed public concern over lung disease prevention. That month, the Padres announced that PETCO Park would be smoke-free in the 2006 season. Qualcomm Stadium went smoke-free in October.
On April 21, Imperial Beach adopted smoke-free parks and beaches.
On May 23, Chula Vista declared that all restaurant patios would be smoke-free while the City of La Mesa adopted smoke-free park rules. Two days later, the San Diego City Council agreed to smoke-free parks and beaches. The rules took effect in mid-August.
Coronado adopted smoke-free parks and beaches in August.
In October, the San Diego Unified Port District directed its staff to draft an ordinance banning smoking in all tideland parks and beaches, including launch ramps, fishing piers, jetties, and parking lots; on December 5 the board adopted the smoke-free rules. The directors noted that each of the cities that surround the Port and contribute members to the board have adopted smoke-free parks, beaches, or similar rules.On November 16, Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center went smoke-free, one year after all other Sharp Healthcare campuses took the step.
On December 6, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance to prohibit smoking in the county's 40,000 acres of parks and open spaces. County campgrounds, historical sites and sports parks are covered by the ordinance, which took effect on December 13.
College campuses also adopted new smoke-free policies this year. Mesa College will be smoke-free when the semester begins in January 2007. Grossmont/Cuyamaca will designate smoking areas and has committed to creating a smoke-free campus.
But not all the news of this year was good.
• Tobacco tax advocates lost a statewide political battle on November 7 to impose a $2.60 per pack tax on cigarettes.
• The hookah fad has grown without adequate consumer awareness and is practically unregulated.
• In El Cajon, a Youth Purchase Survey conducted by Communities Against Substance Abuse (a partner in the Tobacco-Free Communities Coalition), found that one in four retailers sell tobacco to minors.
“Adequate funding for law enforcement is vital for the success of future tobacco licensure laws,” notes TFCC chair Chavez.
The Tobacco-Free Communities Coalition (TFCC) works in the San Diego region to reduce tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke among San Diego County children, youth, and adults. The TFCC is joined in these efforts by the Tobacco Control Coalition (TCC) and the Tobacco Control Resource Program (TCRP) of the County of San Diego Health & Human Services Agency.
info
