HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0013.238 2002-2004
Fram: fax To: Fax#961 A912 Da9e: 7HH93 Time: 16:27:49 Page 1 of 1
Wntten Testimony: County Bill 260 Draft 2, pg. 1 oC 1
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TO Council Chairman James Y. Arakaki ~ ~3 ~~L 1 P~ ~
And Councilmembers
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RE WRITTEN TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF BILL 260 COUNTY i iI- HAWAII
Relating'1'o Smoking In Certain Places In The County Of Hawai' i
Wednesday, July 2, 2003
My name is Chris Dein-Gaughen, and 1 strongly support Bill 260, in a draft which would
effectively prohibit smoking in all workplaces including restaurants (indoor and
outdoors), bars, bowling alleys and nightclubs. I am coordinator for Hawaii Island
Tobacco-Free Partnership, West Hawaii Unit. Members of the Partnership and I
promote the passage of legislation fix healthy work environments for ALL WORKERS,
with no employee deserving of less than full protection. We appreciate the time and
' effort Councilmembers have put forth in considering Bill 260.
While you consider the passage of Bill 260. I ask that you keep these things in mind:
1) "there is a "time lac" between the usace of tobacco and the resultinc diseases that it
causes. What you do today can show either healthy results in years to come, or a less
healthy outcome for our Big Island community if you weaken the protections of Bill 260
to exclude certain workers, such as bar employees, and patrons.
2) Social intervenrion is often necessary to make chance. Small things, such as making
someone have to "walk outside" to smoke, may be just enough of an inconvenience to
encourage them want to yuit smoking.
3) Community chance works best with a "trickle uD" model. Legislation starting at a
local level can later proceed to "trickle up", eventually leading to broader legislation such
as Statewide protections-
4) Most importantly accepting wrong such as encouraging through acceptance others
to have an addiction that can kill them or those azound them, or weighing the health of
one person against the profit margin of another accenting wrong without protecting
against it is really endorsing it Is the council ready to endorse the continued jeopardizing
of its community's health. even while it now has the opportunity to influence positively
the health of Big Islanders by restricting secondhand smoke from all workplaces?
Please pass Bill 260.. in a draft that includes restaurants (indoors and outdoors), bars,
nightclubs, and bowling alleya. Hawaii Island workers, AI,L WORKERS, are
depending on you frx protection from secondhand smoke.
Chris Dein-Gaughen
PO Box 385203
Waikoloa. HI 9673k
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