HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0942.063 2006-2008
P/ PRC
Murashige, Laura
From: Jan-Marie Osorio Uan_is_stoked@hotmail.com]
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2008 3:48 PM
To: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Please vote to support Bill 224.
To: Hawai?i County Council
Re: TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF BILL 224
Relating To Prohibition of Smoking In Certain Places Council hearing: February 5, 2008
February 4, 2008
My name is Jan-Marie Osorio, and I strongly support Bill 224, which would prohibit using
tobacco products at all County of Hawai?i parks and beaches.
I was born and raised on the big island and I love the outdoors. Lately, however, I have
found that the littering of cigarette butts have been such an eyesore for many of the
local parks and beaches.
I currently work with kids in the Pahoa area teaching tobacco prevention. As a community
service activity we do "pick-up butts" clean-ups at various parks around East Hawaii.
During one particular clean up we picked up over 700 cigarette butts in 30 minutes at Moku
Ola (Coconut Island).
Environmental issues are not the only consequence of tobacco use. Many of our keiki
suffer from asthma. These kids visit our beaches and parks on a regular basis, enjoying
surfing, swimming, and sports like soccer. Having secondhand smoke present in these areas
may make it difficult for many to enjoy.
I must commend the Council for addressing this important issue. As you already know,
smoking is hazardous to health. Because of this health risk the State enacted one of the
strongest secondhand smoking-law in the nation prohibiting smoking in virtually all
workplaces and in enclosed and partially enclosed public places. However, smoking is still
permitted in nearly all parks and beach parks within the State, and on the Big Island. Our
keiki continue to be endangered to the hazards of secondhand smoke.
Additionally, discarding cigarettes and cigar butts onto our beaches is unsightly, unclean
and particularly hazardous to small children who handle and sometime ingest them. Finally,
I am personally repelled, not only by people who smoke on our beaches, but also by the
sight of cigarette butts accumulating in the sand.
It is for the reasons I?ve noted above that I strongly encourage the Council tote yes
to pass Bill 224. Last year, Kahalu?u beach park in Kona went smoke-free, Jet?s .¢p the
same for the rest of island. Passing Bill 224, will make visiting all our 4Mks!nd ');I
beaches more enjoyable. !Y
Please accept this as written testimony in support of this bill.
Sincerely,
Jan-Marie Osorio
Hilo, Hawaii "Oi 3d
Jan-Marie Osorio
344 Ianeke Place
Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 938-8176
Comm. ND. !Tit. t%p'
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