Minutes 11-20-2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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of tobacco-free environments. He spoke about the dangers of cigarette butts such as the dangers of children putting them in their mouths and the fact that they can kill wildlife. Senator Ellie Kinnaird said that she is here in support of this ordinance. She said that Orange County has been a leader in this state and nation and they should continue to be a leader by passing this ordinance. She said that the cost to the state of smoking-related illnesses is very high. She praised the students of TRU for getting the word out to their peers. Representative Verla Insko said that she recently received a letter from the North Carolina Restaurant Association praising them for the smoke-free laws passed that affect restaurants and bars. There has been an increase in patronization of restaurants since these laws took effect. Laura Parkinson was here representing the American Cancer Society. She spoke in support of this resolution. The comments below were submitted via email: Good Evening. I'm Terri Tyson and I live in Chapel Hill. I have four kids, including triplets and I am a non-smoker. I've worked in Public Health Promotion and Policy research for over two years. As a survey researcher, I have contacted Public Health Directors, elected officials and legislators in all counties in New York and Florida regarding their opinions about local smoking ordinances in their states. I believe I am very familiar with most of the local smoking legislation that has been proposed or passed in those states. I don't like smoking and was glad when smoking was banned in restaurants; this seemed reasonable. For me, it was a "Don't Tread on Me" issue. I don't like being around smoke; smokers have brought a self inflicted, highly addictive health hazard upon themselves. However, some compassion should be shown. Smokers huddled under a flagpole seem humiliated. There is only one paragraph in the OC rule describing possible smoking cessation interventions, mainly focused on county employees. The government highly taxes cigarettes, yet is dependent on the tax revenue that it brings in; the tobacco companies would like to see a profit even while paying out lots in the master settlement agreement, and smokers are caught between the two. Research shows high taxes do not deter smokers from buying cigarettes; in fact since the tax does not apply to other tobacco products, the sale of candy flavored cigarillos has increased dramatically. This is an example of an unintended consequence. The grape flavored cigarillos are marketed to youth, and for $1.49, they are much cheaper than cigarettes. Regarding the proposed Orange County smoking rule, I object to the public sidewalk prohibition. Most sidewalks are owned and maintained by the towns and county, so that covers almost everywhere. This is too extensive a rule and is rather draconian. Because smokers are not allowed to smoke anywhere else, including the workplace and the parking lot, they'll be forced to smoke in their cars. Often they are picking up children, so children are riding in smoke filled cars. As part of my survey research, we contacted parents who smoke who called their state's Quitline. We also asked their children if the parent smokes in the car with the child present.