Monterey gets F for smoking from American Lung Association
Monterey brought home a poor report card Tuesday, receiving an F from the American Lung Association’s 2009 State of Tobacco Control report.
The national report based the marks on legislation in smoke-free outdoor air, smoke-free housing, and reduction of the sale of tobacco to minors. In California, the report detailed every county and city. Monterey received dismal scores in all areas.
Nearby towns received low scores. Salinas did best with a D. Carmel, Pacific Grove and all other local cities received an F. The overall Monterey County score was D.
Fred Cohn, Monterey’s assistant city manager, said the rating is a surprise because the city followed California state laws banning smoking in outdoor public places, including beaches, parks and playgrounds.
But the American Lung Association is not concerned with just smoke-free public areas. Jane Warner, president and CEO of the Association in California, wants to raise awareness of equally pressing concerns such as teenage tobacco use and second-hand smoke in residential places.
About 13 percent of youths in Monterey ages 15 to 17 smoke cigarettes, reports Gonzalo Coronado of the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Monterey County. That is compared to 11 percent statewide.
Warner suggests increasing tobacco taxes, pointing to research that shows a correlation between raising taxes and reduced teen smoking. California’s tax on tobacco has not been upped in 10 years, currently sitting at 87 cents a pack, compared
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to the national average of $1.34.
This year, Warner and the American Lung Association are advocating a proposed ballot initiative called the California Cancer Research Act, which would use the funds from a raised cigarette tax for cancer research and tobacco prevention.
The association strongly advocates for laws to ban smoking in multi-unit housing. Research from the Center for Tobacco Policy & Organizing suggests that 78 percent of California voters support a law requiring apartment buildings to offer nonsmoking sections. Warner said this type of legislation is necessary because second-hand smoke can drift from patios, balconies and outdoor common areas into nonsmoker’s apartments through windows, doors and shared ventilation systems.
During the past year, the city of Richmond was able to raise an F grade into an A through legislation such as an innovative ban on smoking in apartment buildings, the only such legislation in the country.
Monterey is not considering such ordinances, but that doesn’t automatically mean the city is an unhealthy place, Coronado said.
“This report shows more can be done,” he said. “But the grades are based on municipal codes. They do not take into account voluntary measures and social norms.”
The Monterey City Council on Tuesday will consider expanding smoking prohibitions to the Recreational Trail. The council’s goal is to bring city laws in accordance with new state laws, said Cohn.
“That’s not to say that we won’t consider further changes going forward,” he said. Other suggestions would expand the smoking ban to enclosed public buildings and outdoor service areas including ATMs, ticket lines, and bus stops.
