HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0942.081 2006-2008
Murashige, Laura
From: Lila Johnson [lila@hawaii.rr.com]
Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2008 9:41 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 21, 2008
I strongly support Bill 224, which would prohibit using tobacco products at all Hawai?i
County parks and beaches.
I am not a resident but I do own property in Hawai?i County. I am gratified to see how
progressive this County Council is in demonstrating its concern for the families and
children on the Big Island by considering legislation that will result in positive
behavior change. The beauty of this bill is its focus on changing social norms about
tobacco use through the enactment of strong local tobacco control policies.
Policy and environmental change strongly influence smoking initiation and cessation.
Removal of environmental stimuli like flagrant smoking in places where families gather
along the simultaneous creation of environmental disincentives such as bans on tobacco at
recreational sites have been proven to alter the personal, psychological, and sociological
utility of smoking.
A second reason for enacting such a law is the litter issue. Discarding tobacco detritus
on beaches and in parks is vulgar and inconsiderate behavior. It creates an environment
that is unsightly, unclean, and particularly hazardous to small children who could naively
ingest the butts they pick up. What message are we sending our children when their places
of play are polluted with the trash that smokers leave behind? Children and families
deserve clean, healthy places to enjoy outdoor activities.
I strongly encourage the Council to vote YES to pass Bill 224. Last year, Kahalu?u Beach
Park in Kona went smoke-free. The rest of the island deserves that honor as well.
Passing Bill 224 will make visiting all our parks and beaches more enjoyable.
Please accept this as written testimony in support of this bill.
Sincerely,
Statewide Coalition Coordinator Lila Johnson Statewide Coalition Coordinator PO Box 161258
P.O. Box 161258 Honolulu, hl 96816
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