HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0013.252 2002-2004 From Stephen Levine To- County Counci County of Hawaii Date. 7/1/2003 Time 9:4804 AM Page 1 of ?
FACSIMILE COVER PAGE
To : County Counci County of Hawaii From : Stephen Levine
Sent : 7/1/2003 at 9:47:58 AM Pages : 2 (including Cover)
Subject : Bill 260
Attached find testimony I would like to offer with respect to Bill 260. II~~~~II - 11
The hearing is scheduled for July, 2, 2003. A hard copy of this letter will be sent out to~a~y'~'3Wvelt R~ 10 02
Thank you COUI~' ~ G-H ;r~.
COUNTY c tF HAWAII
Stephen Levine
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ItePhen Levine
912 Olioli Street
Makawao, HI 96768
County Council, County of Hawaii
25 Aupuni St.,
Hilo, HI 96720
Re: Bill 260
Dear Council Members:
I find it sad that a council member would think for a moment that a prohibition of
smoking is an interterence with free-enterprise. Not only does it not hurt bar and
restaurant bottom lines, but it is consistent with health regulations already used to
control unsafe work conditions.
The objective evidence is clear. Second-hand/Environmental Tobacco Smoke has been
classified by the US EPA as a group A carcinogen. This puts it the same category as
asbestos and radon. No bar owner is clamoring for the right to have Asbestos Night or a
Radon Rave. There is no safe minimum exposure to any group A carcinogen, whether it
is asbestos, radon or ETS. .
The objective evidence is clear: tax revenues for restaurants and bars where smoking
has been banned have either remained the same or gone up. Whether in California,
New York City, Denver, or Cape Cod, Massachusetts, the empirical evidence is clear.
It is not at all unusual to regulate the exposure of workers to unsafe chemicals. Dry
cleaning businesses are prohibited from using certain chemicals. Our agricultural
industry is prohibited from using certain chemicals. These regulations are in place to
protect the health and safety of workers and consumers alike.
Because of a quirk in American history: the long-term political influence of tobacco
farmers and huge tobacco companies, the Federal government is failed to deal with this
scientifically established danger. There are 44 cancer causing chemicals in each and
every puff.
The County Council should be applauded for joining the growing number of cities,
counties and states, in protecting workers and customers from ETS. The Hawaii County
Council should be applauded for providing the widest protection in the State of Hawaii.
Yours truly,
l
Stephen Levine