This is a syndicated post, which originally appeared at CASAA. View original post.
[full text of Ordinance 2013-10]
If enacted, this bill would:
Ban the use of vapor products wherever smoking is prohibited. In addition to banning e-cigarette use in workplaces, it would also ban e-cigarette use in multi-unit housing with 2 or more units.
Over the past week, multiple news reports have claimed that Contra Costa County, California enacted a ban on e-cigarette use. These reports are false. There is still time to stop Ordinance 2013-10 from becoming law.
The first reading of this bill took place before the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors on March 19, 2013. At the hearing, a local doctor made a presentation that made multiple false claims about e-cigarettes. The doctor even claimed that by marketing e-cigarette “starter kits,” vendors are directly marketing to youth. Multiple parties claimed that the sight of adults using e-cigarettes will inevitably lead children to begin using e-cigarettes. The hearing can be watched here (select SD 3).
A public hearing will be take place on Tuesday, April 9th at 9:30 a.m. at the County Administration Building, 651 Pine Street, Room 107, Martinez, California. We need vapers in and around the Contra Costa County to attend and testify. If you can attend, please e-mail us at board@casaa.org with the subject line “Contra Costa Testimony.” Please help out in any way you can.
Please call, write or fax the members of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors below.
What to say:
1. You would like them to vote NO on Ordinance 2013-10.
2. Tell your story on how switching to an e-cigarette has changed your life.
3. Explain how smoking bans are enacted to protect the public from the harm of secondhand smoke, but e-cigarettes have not been shown to cause harm to bystanders. In fact, all evidence to date shows that the low health risks associated with e-cigarettes is comparable to other smokeless nicotine products.
The low risks of e-cigarettes is supported by research done by Dr. Siegel of Boston University, Dr. Eissenberg of Virginia Commonwealth, Dr Maciej L Goniewicz of the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Dr. Laugesen of Health New Zealand and by the fact that the FDA testing, in spite of its press statement, failed to find harmful levels of carcinogens or toxic levels of any chemical in the vapor.
4. Detail how electronic cigarette use is easy to distinguish from actual smoking. Although some e-cigarettes resemble real cigarettes, many do not. It is easy to tell when someone lights a cigarette, from the smell of smoke. E-cigarette vapor is practically odorless, and generally any detectable odor is not unpleasant and smells nothing like smoke. Additionally, e-cigarette users can decide whether to release any vapor (“stealth vaping”). With so little evidence of use, enforcing indoor use bans on electronic cigarettes would be nearly impossible.
5. If you are a California resident and currently vape in public, talk about your experience. Do businesses you frequent allow you to vape? What about your office? Be sure to include your address and full name.
6. Inform them that the ability to use electronic cigarettes in public spaces and in multi-unit residences will actually improve public health by inspiring other smokers to switch. Surveys of thousands of users indicate that the majority of those who switch, completely replace tobacco cigarettes with the electronic cigarettes, reducing their health risks by 98-99%.
7. Tell them that by switching to a smokeless product, you have greatly reduced your health risks.
8. Direct them to the CASAA.org website for more information.
How to sign up to speak:
Download and print the Request To Speak Form (pdf): Click Here to Download
Fill out the form and send it as an email attachment by April 8th to: june.mchuen@cob.cccounty.us
This form may also be mailed or dropped off in person by April 8th to:
June McHuen
Clerk of the Board
651 Pine St.,
Martinez, CA 94553
How to submit written comments by email:
Email your written comments to district5@bos.cccounty.us
CC: june.mchuen@cob.cccounty.us
Reference in the subject line: “Ordinance NO. 2013-10”
(All supervisors will receive a copy of using this email.)
How to contact/call the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors:
Federal D. Glover
District 5 Supervisor, Chairman
Pittsburg Office Information:
315 East Leland Road
Pittsburg, CA 94565
Phone:(925) 427-8138
Fax: (925) 427-8142
Martinez Office Information:
651 Pine Street
Martinez, CA 94553
Phone: (925) 335-8200
Fax: (925) 335-8208
Hercules Office Information:
151 Linus Pauling Drive
Hercules, CA 94547
Phone: (510) 262-8800
Fax: (510) 262-8808
John Gioia
District 1
11780 San Pablo Ave.
Suite D
El Cerrito, CA 94530
Ph: (510) 231-8686
Fx: (510) 374-3429
Candace Andersen
Supervisor, District 2
San Ramon Valley Office
309 Diablo Road
Danville, CA 94526
Ph: (925) 957-8860
Fx: (925) 820-3785
Mary Nejedly Piepho
Supervisor, District 3
Brentwood Office
3361 Walnut Boulevard, Suite 140
Brentwood, CA 94513
South County Office
4115 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Suite 100-19
Danville, CA 94506
925.252.4500
925.240.7261
Karen Mitchoff
Supervisor, District 4
2151 Salvio St., Suite R
Concord, CA 94520
Ph: (925) 521-7100
Fx: (925) 646-5202
