HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0942.098 2006-2008
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Swallow, Linda
From: J S Yoshimoto Uyoshimoto@co.hawaii.hi.us]
Sent: Friday, February 22, 2008 1:53 PM
To: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: FW: Bill 224 Testimony
From: Allan & Faith Rossman [mailto:alfaith@hawaii.rr.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2008 9:39 PM g
To: J Yoshimoto t+o
Subject: Bill 224 Testimony C m
My Name is Faith Rossman and I am a member of the Breath Free organization in West Hawaii. I stronglpl,-,mpp ill , which
would prohibit use of tobacco products at all County of Hawaii parks and beaches, effectively providing aclean and he0l;by
environment for Hawaii's keiki, ohana, visitors and wildlife.
As a nurse and community member I am a beach user, and I also use our parks frequently. You alreadyl- tt~fise hand
smoke has been proven to cause lung cancer and heart disease, and has been linked to asthma and otl GSenous ret
61tory
problems. On June 27, 2006, the U.S. Surgeon General released its landmark report, The Health Consiquenc s*f Involuntary
Exposure to Tobacco Smoke. One of the report's major conclusions is that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand
smoke.
In addition the toxic litter of cigarette butts is harmful to children on our beaches and in our pristine oceans. The majority of our
society no longer uses tobacco; so allowing tobacco use at our public parks and recreation areas sends a mixed message about
government concern for health issues. As a nurse I am acutely aware that:
Cigarette butts are the number one litter problem we have on our beaches
Children can be harmed when they step on cigarette butts that are improperly extinguished, beside it being distasteful even if
they are extinguished
Ingesting cigarette butts is harmful to toddlers and our coastal birds
. Asthmatics and others with cardiopulmonary diseases must move if someone is smoking around them at the beach
Last year, Kahalu'u Beach Park in Kona went smoke-free. We need to do the same for the rest of the Big Island. Passing Bill 224 will
make visiting all County parks and beaches a more pleasurable experience for kama'aina and visitors alike.
Please protect the health of our people, the purity of our'aina, and the safety of our keiki. The County Council can prove it cares
about public health by protecting it whenever possible, including while people enjoy HawaiTs parks and beaches.
Please support Bill 224. Mahalo nui.
Sincerely,
Faith Rossman, RN, MN
73-1176 Kahuna A'o Road, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740-8470
808.325.0836
alfaith@hawaii.rr,com
Cbmnti No, 9 442. 9 8
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2/26/2008