Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> To cco-eFree <br /> March 10, 2008 ry~jiyy( <br /> <br /> Honorable Mayor Harry Kim <br /> County of Hawaii <br /> 891 Ululani St. <br /> Hilo HI 96720 <br /> Aloha Mayor Kim: <br /> <br /> My name is Juan Moncada, Chairman of Tobacco-Free Big Island (TFBI); a community coalition <br /> of volunteers, businesses and organizations working towards a tobacco-free Hawaii. Our <br /> mission is to provide education and be a resource to the community on tobacco prevention for <br /> youth, cessation programs, and supportive public policy. <br /> <br /> I admire the years of public service you have provided Hawaii County residents over your <br /> tenure, and that your last year in office you recognized the County's health care crisis as your <br /> top. priority. So I was confused by your recent letter to Council Chairman Pete Hoffmann & <br /> Council Members stating your rejection of Bill 224, whose premise is the protection of the public <br /> health. Unquestionably, one factor in the health care crisis is prevention of the most prevalent <br /> and expensive diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and asthma. <br /> The Health Care Crisis in Our County <br /> Second-hand smoke is classified a Class-A carcinogen (same as asbestos), known to cause <br /> cancer. There are no safe levels of exposure. Outdoor tobacco smoke has been declared a <br /> toxic air pollutant by the California EPA. Scientists have tested the toxicity of outdoor tobacco <br /> smoke and have concluded that it can be as harmful as indoor second-hand smoke, especially <br /> for the young, the elderly, asthmatic children and adults suffering from COPD such as <br /> emphysema, and individuals with mitigating heart conditions. Hawaii County has the highest <br /> rates of childhood asthma in the nation. There will be 1,460 adults who die this year in Hawaii <br /> from tobacco use. The annual health care costs in Hawaii directly caused by smoking are $336 <br /> million, not including lost productivity for an additional $308 million. <br /> The World Health Organization states in a recent stunning report that more life has been lost to <br /> tobacco and second-hand smoke exposure than in all wars combined. They warn that the <br /> tobacco epidemic is increasing and will claim 1 billion lives by the end of the 21°` century unless <br /> government officials take measures to enact strict policies to curb tobacco use and protect the <br /> public against second-hand smoke. Tobacco use and second-hand smoke combine to be the <br /> number one burden on our healthcare system - it is a major reason for our crisis, overburdening <br /> our budgets and our medical capacity. <br /> <br /> Impact to Our Resources <br /> A visit to our parks, beaches and recreational facilities should be a pleasurable and safe <br /> experience, yet because of cigarette litter they are unsightly, unclean, and particularly <br /> hazardous to small children. Cigarettes and their packaging make up the number one litter item <br /> on our island. Cigarette butts are composed of cellulose acetate, a form of plastic, which is <br /> estimated to take up to 25 years to decompose on land and in the sand. It takes a cigarette butt <br /> 5 years to decompose in the ocean. Cigarette filters have been found in the stomachs of sea <br /> turtles, fish, birds, whales and other marine creatures who mistake them for food, swallowing <br /> harmful plastic and toxic chemicals. Both our human and our animal resources are nil <br /> by tobacco products on our beaches. Comm 5 <br /> Ref. To.9-01 <br /> Ret Dota MAR <br /> OurMission. ffloprovide tools to inspire allsegments of ourdiverse communityto eliminate tobacco useand i as await <br /> Page t of 2 <br />