Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> Page 1 of 1 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Swallow, Linda <br /> <br /> From: J S Yoshimoto Uyoshimoto@co.hawaii.hi.us] <br /> Sent: Friday, February 22, 2008 1:53 PM <br /> To: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us <br /> <br /> Subject: FW: Bill 224 Testimony <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> From: Allan & Faith Rossman [mailto:alfaith@hawaii.rr.com] <br /> Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2008 9:39 PM g <br /> To: J Yoshimoto t+o <br /> Subject: Bill 224 Testimony C m <br /> My Name is Faith Rossman and I am a member of the Breath Free organization in West Hawaii. I stronglpl,-,mpp ill , which <br /> would prohibit use of tobacco products at all County of Hawaii parks and beaches, effectively providing aclean and he0l;by <br /> environment for Hawaii's keiki, ohana, visitors and wildlife. <br /> <br /> As a nurse and community member I am a beach user, and I also use our parks frequently. You alreadyl- tt~fise hand <br /> smoke has been proven to cause lung cancer and heart disease, and has been linked to asthma and otl GSenous ret <br /> 61tory <br /> problems. On June 27, 2006, the U.S. Surgeon General released its landmark report, The Health Consiquenc s*f Involuntary <br /> Exposure to Tobacco Smoke. One of the report's major conclusions is that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand <br /> smoke. <br /> In addition the toxic litter of cigarette butts is harmful to children on our beaches and in our pristine oceans. The majority of our <br /> society no longer uses tobacco; so allowing tobacco use at our public parks and recreation areas sends a mixed message about <br /> government concern for health issues. As a nurse I am acutely aware that: <br /> Cigarette butts are the number one litter problem we have on our beaches <br /> Children can be harmed when they step on cigarette butts that are improperly extinguished, beside it being distasteful even if <br /> they are extinguished <br /> Ingesting cigarette butts is harmful to toddlers and our coastal birds <br /> . Asthmatics and others with cardiopulmonary diseases must move if someone is smoking around them at the beach <br /> Last year, Kahalu'u Beach Park in Kona went smoke-free. We need to do the same for the rest of the Big Island. Passing Bill 224 will <br /> make visiting all County parks and beaches a more pleasurable experience for kama'aina and visitors alike. <br /> Please protect the health of our people, the purity of our'aina, and the safety of our keiki. The County Council can prove it cares <br /> about public health by protecting it whenever possible, including while people enjoy HawaiTs parks and beaches. <br /> Please support Bill 224. Mahalo nui. <br /> Sincerely, <br /> Faith Rossman, RN, MN <br /> 73-1176 Kahuna A'o Road, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740-8470 <br /> 808.325.0836 <br /> alfaith@hawaii.rr,com <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Cbmnti No, 9 442. 9 8 <br /> Ref. To:_~~e~e <br /> Ref. Dote_FFa 2 R rrm <br /> 2/26/2008 <br />