HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0013.006 2002-2004
November 26, 2002
County Council ' (72 ` f'~I ~ ~
County of Hawaii
25 Aupuni `Street ~i ~ ~
Hilo, Hawaii, 96720
Re: Bill 260
Dear Council member Leithhead-Todd and fellow Council members,
First let me thank you for your time and efforts put forth in the meeting in Kona this
evening. It is good that we can share with you our thoughts and concerns on the banning
of smoking in public places.
My husband and I were in attendance and were impressed with the number of people who
came so well prepared for the meeting. We ourselves are new to the island, but knew that
this is a matter of great importance to the community.
Although we did not go before you with our thoughts and concerns I felt the need to
express my concerns in regards to the new bill in a letter.
We have lived in California for the last thirty-one years. We are former smokers and
parents of an asthmatic son. I smoked while pregnant with him and have always thought
that perhaps if I hadn't smoked he might not have been born with asthma. There is no
history of it on either side of our family. This was just before they started showing
concerns about the ill effects of smoking. I quit before I conceived our second son and he
has hardly been sick a day in his life.
My parents were heavy smokers most of their lives and dad had Alzheimer's in his later
years and my mother had Supra nuclear palsy, similar to Pazkinson's disease but much
more sever. My mother's sister had advanced lung disease due to heavy smoking and
slowly suffocated to death. Much of this has been attributed to their smoking.
On the personal level my husband and I love to country-dance. In California we would
go dancing at least once a week and it was terrible to have the smoke to deal with. By the
end of the evening our clothes stunk of cigarette smoke and our lungs hurt. It was a great
relief when they banned smoking in all public places. We so enjoyed going out dancing
and not having singed lungs and smelly clothes at the end of the night. It did not hurt the
businesses as far as we could tell. Most put small aeeas outside the buildings where
smokers could congregate. Some areas they were able to take their drinks with them, but
these areas were fenced in. Other places would let them smoke out front but no
beverages were allowed outside the doors.
As far as the youth of today smoking, we have seen first hand how Marlboro courts their
business. At the country nightclubs they have set up video games that the young sign up
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to play. They can win any number of prizes. But Marlboro will follow up by sending
them things in the mail to keep them aware of their product. Our son would get things
from them every couple of months after playing their games in the clubs.
I owned my own business for sixteen years. It was great when the ban on smoking was
put into place. Our cleaning bills went way down and of course the work place was so
much better for everyone. We never had a problem with anyone going against the law.
There were a number of businesses in the strip mall that my business was in and none of
us had any problems with the drop in business. There were two restaurants, a bar and
cleaning supply company. The bar patrons complained a little for a few months but got
over it and the smokers would step outside and smoke there. The alcohol was not
allowed outside. I did not see any businesses closing because of the ban. I am talking
about small businesses that everyone is worried about.
The council is in a difficult position when rights to both sides are at risk here.
But I do know that when my husband and I go dancing, we don't pose a health problem
to our fellow dancers. We are not polluting their air or causing them harm in any way. l
wish that were the case with smokers.
I know that you and your fellow council members will be as fair as possible and realize
that the bill you have in front of you is needed. Please look into the bills that other states
have in place and the wording. It does no good to have another bill that has no teeth or is
ambiguous.
Thank you for your time and I pray that you as a council will make a decision that has the
people of Hawaii's best interests at heart.
Sincerely,
Denise L. Hernandez
77-168 La'aloa Avenue C
Kailua-Kona, Hi. 96740
(808)322-4147