COM 0942.047 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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P/ psf PRc Murashige, Laura From: Olga Geling [geling@hawaii.edu] Sent: Monday, February 04, 2008 9:15 AM To: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us Subject: Please vote to support Bill 224. To: Hawai?i County Council Re: TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF BILL 224 Relating To Prohibition of Smoking In Certain Places Council hearing: February 5, 2008 February 3, 2008 My name is Olga Geling, and I strongly wholeheartedly support Bill 224, which would prohibit using tobacco products at all County of Hawai?i parks and beaches. I must commend the Council for addressing this important issue. As you already know, smoking is hazardous to health and environment. Because of this health risk the State enacted one of the strongest secondhand smoking-law in the nation prohibiting smoking in virtually all workplaces and in enclosed and partially enclosed public places. However, smoking is still permitted in nearly all parks and beach parks within the State, and on the Big Island. Our keiki continue to be endangered to the hazards of secondhand smoke. Additionally, discarding cigarettes and cigar butts onto our beaches is unsightly, unclean and particularly hazardous to small children who handle and sometime ingest them. Finally, I am personally repelled, not only by people who smoke on our beaches, but also by the sight of cigarette butts accumulating in the sand. It is for the reasons I?ve noted above that I strongly encourage the Council to vote yes to pass Bill 224. Last year, Kahalu?u beach park in Kona went smoke-free, let?s do the same for the rest of island. Passing Bill 224, will make visiting all our parks and beaches more enjoyable. Please accept this as written testimony in support of this bill. Sincerely, Olga Geling, Honolulu i~ tT Olga Geling zC) C.77..~ 1960 East-West Road Bio-Med D-104 ! CPr F Honolulu, HI 96822 T'i ~ - t i 3 956-0929.'~.-~'~ tCD 1 cr) Comm: No. .q Y .4-1 Ref. Tot 11`1116901111111111 5 G Ref. Dote _11- E I