Agenda - 02-19-2013 - 5a - Laserfiche WebLink

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13 1 The comments below were submitted via email: 2 3 Good Evening. I'm Terri Tyson and I live in Chapel Hill. I have four kids, including triplets and 4 am a non-smoker. I've worked in Public Health Promotion and Policy research for over two 5 years. As a survey researcher, I have contacted Public Health Directors, elected officials and 6 legislators in all counties in New York and Florida regarding their opinions about local smoking 7 ordinances in their states. 8 9 I believe I am very familiar with most of the local smoking legislation that has been proposed or 10 passed in those states. 11 12 I don't like smoking and was glad when smoking was banned in restaurants; this seemed 13 reasonable. For me, it was a "Don't Tread on Me" issue. I don't like being around smoke; 14 smokers have brought a self inflicted, highly addictive health hazard upon themselves. 15 However, some compassion should be shown. Smokers huddled under a flagpole seem 16 humiliated. There is only one paragraph in the OC rule describing possible smoking cessation 17 interventions, mainly focused on county employees. 18 19 The government highly taxes cigarettes, yet is dependent on the tax revenue that it brings in; 20 the tobacco companies would like to see a profit even while paying out lots in the master 21 settlement agreement, and smokers are caught between the two. 22 23 Research shows high taxes do not deter smokers from buying cigarettes; in fact since the tax 24 does not apply to other tobacco products, the sale of candy flavored cigarillos has increased 25 dramatically. This is an example of an unintended consequence. The grape flavored cigarillos 26 are marketed to youth, and for $1 .49, they are much cheaper than cigarettes. 27 28 Regarding the proposed Orange County smoking rule, I object to the public sidewalk 29 prohibition. Most sidewalks are owned and maintained by the towns and county, so that covers 30 almost everywhere. This is too extensive a rule and is rather draconian. Because smokers are 31 not allowed to smoke anywhere else, including the workplace and the parking lot, they'll be 32 forced to smoke in their cars. Often they are picking up children, so children are riding in smoke 33 filled cars. 34 35 As part of my survey research, we contacted parents who smoke who called their state's 36 Quitline. We also asked their children if the parent smokes in the car with the child present. 37 38 Your ordinance mentions the harmful effects of smoking in a car even with the windows open. 39 Please don't rush to legislate something that will end up being more harmful. 40 41 This is an unintended consequence of your proposed rule. 42 43 Smokers are taxpayers, and remember they are part of the public in public health. A bit of 44 smoke on a remote sidewalk is much less harmful than children having to endure smoke in a 45 car. 46 47 I highly doubt that prohibiting smoking in all the places mentioned in the rule, including all public 48 sidewalks, will cause smokers to quit. There will be other negative results, if the sidewalk 49 portion of the rule is not modified. Please consider limiting the sidewalk rule to areas where 50 people might congregate, like at a bus stop.