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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0013.197 2002-2004 Written Testimony: County Bi11260 Draft 3, pg. 1 of 3 June 17, 2003 TO: Council Chairman James Y. Arakaki And Members of the Hawaii County Council FR: Trade Yoshimoto, East Hawaii Coordinator Hawaii Island Tobacco-Free Partnership RE: WRITTEN TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF BILL 260 DRAFT 3 Relating To Smoking In Certain Places In The County Of Hawai' i Wednesday, June 18, 2003; 9:00 a.m. Ohana Keauhou Beach Resort My name is Tracie Yoshimoto, East Hawaii coordinator for the Hawaii Island Tobacco- Free Partnership, and we strongly support Bi11260 Draft 3, without exemptions. This would effectively prohibit smoking in all workplaces, recognizing the importance of providing a safe working environment for all employees and patrons. The Hawaii Island Tobacco-Fret Partnership is a community based alliance of more than thirty member partners, made up of organizations and individuals who are committed to collaboratively reducing tobacco use and exposure in East Hawai' i. Some of our partners include the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Department of Education, Department of Health, KT'A Super Stores, Bay Clinic, and National Emphysema/COPD Association to name a few. As members of the community, my partners and I are very concerned about the health of all workers and think all workers and patrons deserve protection against the devastating effects of second hand smoke - a Class A Carcinogen, same as radon and asbestos. We are concerned that Draft 4 would not protect children and those in private home healthcare facilities, workers or patrons in bars, nightclubs or those in restaurants with outdoor seating areas. As this issue has played out, and many opinions have been voiced, please do not be swayed into thinking that second hand smoke isn't that bad or that government is going too far. For every eight smokers that die, there is one non-smoker that goes with them. This is a public health issue and therefore it is not up to a business owner to decide what the policy should be. Businesses have a responsibility to provide a safe environment for their workers and patrons. Public health regulations are created to make sure they do that. All workers have the right to breathe clean air. ALL workers and patrons, without exception, deserve protection from second-hand smoke, especially children, the disabled and those of bars and nightclubs. [ have spoken with the operator and manager of Lava Lounge, which is located in comm. No. ~ 1 I Ref. To: h~C~'~ Ref. Date Written Testimony: County Bill 260 Drafr 3, pg. 2 of 3 Volcanoes National Park. They were federally mandated to go smoke-free as of December 2002. Smoking is prohibited within 50' of any entrance and inside of all Department of Defense facilities, including bars. Their workers (who smoke) are happy, their manager who has asthma is happy, her health has improved, patrons are happy and sales have increased compared to the same time period last year. (no federal endorsement implied) Cronies Bar and Grill went smoke-free on May ls` of this year. I recently spoke with the manager there and he has had some negative reactions, but many more positive comments from patrons. Yes, bar workers smoke. So do office workers, so do restaurant workers, so do teachers, so do public officials. So do nurses, doctors, etc. Tobacco is addictive. This doesn't mean they should have to breath in second hand smoke eight hours a day. Bar workers who smoke and work in smoke-filled conditions may say that they don't mind it -because they smoke too. But what else can they say when this is their livelihood. The primary, secondary even third paycheck they rely on to pay their rent, to put food on the table or to pay for school. Some of these workers already have asthma, eventually, they may get lung cancer, emphysema and the day will come when this group of workers will turn around and sue their employers for not protecting them. Since the last hearing, we are happy to say that Ken's House of Pancakes and Kay's Lunch Center have also gone smoke free. Ken's went smoke free on June 1, 2003. In speaking with Ric Maiava and Debra Maiava, general manager of Ken's, they are thrilled with the results they've seen. They attended the last hearing and have been waiting for the council to pass this bill and decided they couldn't wait any longer and did it for their workers and patrons health. They report that workers and patrons are happier and business has improved. Kay's Lunch Center went smoke free as of June 5, 2003, and when I spoke with the owner, he indicated that he was against the bill at first. But changed his mind after seeing information in the media about second hand smoke and how it affects workers. He decided to go smoke-free for his workers and for his patrons. I'd like to remind you of some of the experiences that people have shared with me about their working in smoke-filled bars or nightclubs. A University of Hawai i at Hilo nursing student recently told me that he worked in a nightclub where he was a DJ. The second-hand smoke he had to endure during his shift was nauseating and at times unbearable. A bartender at Cronies in Hilo who is also a college student, said that she could not wait until May first when her workplace would be smoke-free. She would have to set up an electric fan in the bar area to blow the smoke away from her. When she got home after her shift, her clothes and hair reeked of cigarette smoke and she would often cough because of the constant stream of second-hand smoke she had to inhale during her shift. Written Testimony: County Bill 260 Drufi 3, pg. 3 of 3 A young professional female in Hilo expressed that she goes to the local bars with her girlfriends, but hates having to breathe in cigarette smoke and often times avoids these places because of it. She said that now that Cronies has gone smoke-free she and her friends frequent there more often and stay longer. Smoking needs to be eliminated from all workplaces to ensure a level plavine field where no business has to compete based on whether they allow smoking or not. If this bill is passed without exemptions, businesses may see patrons who become more loyal, customers may patronize them more often, they may see that operations run smoother and overhead is reduced because of going smoke-free, resulting in increased profits. Once this bill is passed and signed into law, our Partnership is committed to taking the lead in public education on second hand smoke and the new law. We are also committed to helping businesses transition smoothly to becoming smoke-free. We will do this through selected media, a resource kit, presentations, and one-on-one sessions. Our partner members are very supportive of Bi11260 Draft 3. We urge the Council to protect ALL workers and patrons, and vote down Draft 4. Please accept this as written testimony. Thank you in advance for your consideration. Please contact me if you have any questions. Sincerely, g'~r-acie~`tSshimoto, East Hawaii Coordinator Hawaii island Tobacco-Free Partnership P.O. Box 2265 Pahoa, Hawaii 96778 Ph: (808)965-0663 Fax: (808)965-0556 C-ph: (808) 896-1670 Email traciey@hawaii.rr.com