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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0013.260 2002-2004 From.tex To: Faz#961A972 Dale: 7/i/103 Time: 17:11:37 Paget or1 RFC` i~,,``~ iO: Council Chairman James Y. Arakaki "~3 JUL 2 7 25 And Councilmembers COUIv ~ r~~~ E=fiK RE: WRITTEN TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF BILL 260 BOUNTY .;1=~j-~yy~1 Relating To Smoking In Certain Places In The County Of Hawaii Wednesday. July 2, 2003 I appreciate the fear bar owners are facing as Bill 260 is close at hand. however their fears and views of freedom are misplaced. All they have to do is read about the results of similar smoke free laws in other states to know that even bars and restaurants that are now smoke free have not lost business. Are they unaware that the majority of the population are non-smokers wha would be happy to frequent a bar if it were not so smoke-filled? The bottom line is that customers should have a healthy, smoke-free environment when in any public establishment. However, another issue here is LONG TERM HEALTH PROTECTION FOR ALL WORKERS. Employees of bars should not be viewed as second class citizens that do not deserve protection. Besides bar employees, protection is deserved by delivery persons, equipment installers, cable company workers, postal workers, and other workers who must enter the establishment In the course of their employment. Workers who get repeatedly exposed to second hand smoke get a virtual death sentence, or at the very least, a future of chronic disease. I'm a veteran nurse of over 40 years land a Pulmonary Clinical Nurse Specialist), and I've seen too many die from smoking-related diseases who lived with smokers or worked in smoke-filled environments. It's not a pretty picture. We'd all like to live in paradise, but we don't want to die prematurely in paradise. Faith Rosman, NiN, RN Kailua-Kona Comm. No. / Ref. 70: 4ef. Date _~(~II n