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<br /> <br /> P/ PRC <br /> <br /> Murashige, Laura <br /> <br /> From: Jan-Marie Osorio Uan_is_stoked@hotmail.com] <br /> Sent: Monday, February 04, 2008 3:48 PM <br /> To: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us <br /> Subject: Please vote to support Bill 224. <br /> To: Hawai?i County Council <br /> Re: TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF BILL 224 <br /> Relating To Prohibition of Smoking In Certain Places Council hearing: February 5, 2008 <br /> February 4, 2008 <br /> My name is Jan-Marie Osorio, and I strongly support Bill 224, which would prohibit using <br /> tobacco products at all County of Hawai?i parks and beaches. <br /> <br /> I was born and raised on the big island and I love the outdoors. Lately, however, I have <br /> found that the littering of cigarette butts have been such an eyesore for many of the <br /> local parks and beaches. <br /> I currently work with kids in the Pahoa area teaching tobacco prevention. As a community <br /> service activity we do "pick-up butts" clean-ups at various parks around East Hawaii. <br /> During one particular clean up we picked up over 700 cigarette butts in 30 minutes at Moku <br /> Ola (Coconut Island). <br /> Environmental issues are not the only consequence of tobacco use. Many of our keiki <br /> suffer from asthma. These kids visit our beaches and parks on a regular basis, enjoying <br /> surfing, swimming, and sports like soccer. Having secondhand smoke present in these areas <br /> may make it difficult for many to enjoy. <br /> I must commend the Council for addressing this important issue. As you already know, <br /> smoking is hazardous to health. Because of this health risk the State enacted one of the <br /> strongest secondhand smoking-law in the nation prohibiting smoking in virtually all <br /> workplaces and in enclosed and partially enclosed public places. However, smoking is still <br /> permitted in nearly all parks and beach parks within the State, and on the Big Island. Our <br /> keiki continue to be endangered to the hazards of secondhand smoke. <br /> Additionally, discarding cigarettes and cigar butts onto our beaches is unsightly, unclean <br /> and particularly hazardous to small children who handle and sometime ingest them. Finally, <br /> I am personally repelled, not only by people who smoke on our beaches, but also by the <br /> sight of cigarette butts accumulating in the sand. <br /> It is for the reasons I?ve noted above that I strongly encourage the Council tote yes <br /> to pass Bill 224. Last year, Kahalu?u beach park in Kona went smoke-free, Jet?s .¢p the <br /> same for the rest of island. Passing Bill 224, will make visiting all our 4Mks!nd ');I <br /> beaches more enjoyable. !Y <br /> Please accept this as written testimony in support of this bill. <br /> Sincerely, <br /> Jan-Marie Osorio <br /> Hilo, Hawaii "Oi 3d <br /> Jan-Marie Osorio <br /> 344 Ianeke Place <br /> Hilo, HI 96720 <br /> (808) 938-8176 <br /> <br /> <br /> Comm. ND. !Tit. t%p' <br /> Ref. To: I Ps c <br /> Ref. Dafe 0 5 2008 <br /> t <br />