COM 0942.132 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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DATE: March 10, 2008 TO: Council Chairman Pete Hoffmann 8t Council Members Hawaii County Council FR: Olivia Bing, REAL member RE: WRITTEN TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF BILL 224 (in its current form) Relating To Smoking in Certain Places in the County of Hawai. i Second Reading, Public Hearing on Wednesday, March 12, 2008 My name is Olivia Bing. I'm 20 years old and currently 29 weeks pregnant. This bill is very important to me for many reasons. I am a member of REAL, and a former Board member of REAL. REAL is a statewide youth led movement against the tobacco industry. "Bill 224 would ban smoking in county parks and beaches to protect the public from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke and tobacco waste." Juan Moncada, Hilo chairman, Tobacco-Free Big Island Coalition. I strongly support Bill 224 and commend the County Council for moving this visionary measure forward in its current form. I want Hawaii County to be a clean and healthy place for my family and I to enjoy. Bill 224 will protect my right to breathe clean air at all County of Hawaii parks, beaches and recreational facilities. "In the U.S., about 50,000 people die each year from secondhand smoke-related diseases." www.thetruth.com I am in support of this bill for the following reasons: • 1 year ago my god-mother died of lung cancer, caused by second hand smoke. She worked in a restaurant for about 20 years, where smoking was permitted. I know the dangerous effects of second hand smoke. I'm currently pregnant, as hard as I try to stay out of other's second hand smoke; it's very hard to do so at the beach and other parks. There is always someone smoking around everyone who is not. My unborn child and I should not have to breathe in that smoke, just because someone else wants to but doesn't want to walk away from where everyone else is. • I will be the mother of a new baby in 11 weeks; I do not believe my child should have to play on a beach where other people are smoking. I plan to work my hardest to make sure she does not have to be around other's cigarette smoke. I feel it's none of my business if other parents smoke around their children, but around mine is different. I do not want my child crawling on the beach and putting old cigarette butts in her mouth, it's not fair to her, or anyone else's child. For all the reasons listed above and many more I'm sure others will mention I strongly feel this bill should be passed. Not only protect our health and ability to enjoy the beach, but for our children's well being also. It is the responsibility of government to protect the public's health, including while enjoying Hawai'i's parks and beaches. Clean air is my right, and it must be protected. Pass Bill 224 in its current form. Please accept this as written testimony in support of this bill. Thank you for your time considering my request Sincerely, Olivia Bing Hilo, Hi 96720 q *zz Gomm ~0. ,Ref. TO' ~~fO Ref. We R~ 1