HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0746.026 2000-2002 Sept. 23, 2002
To Whom It May Concern:
I urge you to support the ordinance amending Chapter 14 (General Welfare) of the
Plawaii County Code 193 (1995 edition) relating to smoking in certain places in
the County of I-~awaii. This ordinance will have a sweeping, positive effect on the
health of dig Island residents who choose to breath clean air.
It cannot be denied that second hand smoke has been implicated in the
development o+f h.eart disease, cancer, lung disease, and acute respiratory illnesses
non-srnokig adults and children. While I respect the rights of smokers to
choose their own poison, I will not concede that they have flee right to pollute the
air ofnon-smokers.
Restaurant owners who worry about losing business could not be more wrong, and
are woefully n~isinforrned. I~ow can they lose a substantial mount of business in
a society where ~S®/~ of the people are non-smokers? I propose that they would
incr°ea~se their business from the non-smokers who would be -more willing to
patroni,~e their businesses if they were smoke-free. In addition, they probably have
not noticed the statistics on increased costs to employers who have smoking
employees. I refer to cash outlays for more .sick days, lower productivity and
increased health insurance premiums directly related to employees who smoke.
I also propose that we consider the non-smoking employees of such places, who
must suffer in a smoke filled environment for eight to ten hours a day. They have
the right to a clean-air work environment. There are plenty of employers who
prohibit srna~ki~g in the workplace and provide an area where smokers can puff
away in blissful ignorance (far away from non-smokers). They and the smoking
employees can gratefully tell you that the smokers have actually cut down on their
smoking habit as a result and many smokers have quit the addiction as a result.
Only good outcomes can result from supporting this ordinance. Please do not
allow fearful, uninformed employers to sway your ~udgrnent. ~o the right thing!
Faith Rossman, RN, MN
Cardiopuh~nonary Clinical Nurse Specialist
I~ailua-Rona•
t°,ornrx~, Nas
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