Letters Received — Riverside City Council, June 14, 2022

Riverside CA 92522
April 22, 2022
Dear Mayor Lock-Dawson and Members of the City Council, The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s (ACS CAN) mission is to end suffering and death from cancer, and smoke- free policies are one way to reduce suffering from cancer.

Thank you for considering an ordinance to reduce secondhand smoke exposure for residents of multi-family (attached) housing; these policies protect residents from secondhand smoke in their homes and help former smokers stay smoke-free.

We urge you to remove all exemptions from the smoke-free multi-unit housing policy under consideration; secondhand smoke affects all, regardless of whether the unit is owned or rented. ACS CAN supports a comprehensive policy that prohibits smoking in all multi-unit housing, including condominiums and townhomes. Everyone should have the opportunity to breathe clean air where they live, work and play.

Removing exemptions will protect those community members who are least able to protect themselves from secondhand smoke. Smoke-free multi-unit housing policies provide significant health protections for all but are especially important for medically fragile people, such as cancer patients and vulnerable populations, such as young children and seniors.

Cancer patients and survivors tell us that they get more nauseous when secondhand smoke creeps into their home from nearby patios and balconies. More than 80% of ALL California households completely prohibit smoking in their homes but cannot control this when they live in shared housing without 100% smoke-free policies.

Your ordinance defines smoking to include smoke from tobacco, electronic smoking devices, and any plant products including cannabis whether the products are lighted, heated or burned.

Smoke is smoke and no amount of secondhand smoke is safe, according to the US Surgeon General.

Equitable enforcement of smoke-free housing policies is critical. We are pleased to see that evictions are not part of the enforcement and penalty structure. We support keeping people in their homes and suggest that you work with public health agencies to develop an implementation plan that includes community education and cessation resources to support those who are trying to quit.
04-26-2022
Item No.: 17

Lynda Barbour, MPH
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Inc. fightcancer.org PO Box 910549; San Diego CA 92191
Office 619-624-1517; mobile: 619-742-4861
[email protected]
Thank you for your vote for a strong smoke-free multi-unit housing policy. We are pleased to have the city make the health of Riverside residents a priority and join the numerous communities throughout California who have adopted comprehensive smoke-free multi-unit housing policies. Riverside will lead the way as the largest city in Inland Empire to have a strong smoke-free housing policy
Sincerely,
Lynda Barbour, MPH
Senior Government Relations Director,
Southern California and Central Valley
cc Mayor
City Council
City Manager
City Attorney
ACMs
DCM
1 From: Norma Barles <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2022 6:22 PM
To: CityClerkMbx <[email protected]>
Subject: [External] Public Comment : Smoke Free Multi Unit Housing Ordinance CAUTION: This email is originated from OUTSIDE of City of Riverside and was not sent by any City Officials or City Staff. Do not click on links or open attachments unless you are expecting the email and know that the content is safe. If you suspect this is a phishing or malicious email, please contact the helpdesk.

April 25, 2022
City of Riverside Mayor and City Council
RE: City-wide Smoke-free Multi-unit Housing Ordinance
Dear Mayor Lock Dawson, City Council Members and City Staff:

LULAC of Riverside Council #3190 supports a city-wide smoke-free multi-unit housing ordinance - without an exemption for condominiums/townhomes.

In 2020, LULAC of Riverside Council #3190 submitted a letter of support for a city-wide smoke-free multi-unit housing ordinance to then Mayor Bailey. We are glad to see the item on the April 26
th city council meeting. However, we are concerned that the proposed ordinance leaves condominium/townhome dwellers unprotected from secondhand smoke (including drifting smoke from cannabis, tobacco or vaping).

The health of condominium/townhome dwellers should be protected from secondhand smoke. Cities have the authority to require that all multi-unit housing within their jurisdiction be smoke-free - regardless of whether occupants rent or own the unit they reside in.

Therefore, please amend the current proposed ordinance to include condominiums/townhomes.

Sincerely,
Norma Barles
President
LULAC of Riverside Council #3190
Date: 4-26-22
Item No.: 17
cc Mayor
City Council
City Manager
City Attorney
ACMs
CEDD Director
From: Rebecca Habeeb-Silva
To: CityClerkMbx
Subject: [External] RE: City Council Meeting 04/26 Smoke-Free Multi-Unit Housing Date: Monday, April 25, 2022 1:23:12 PM
CAUTION: This email is originated from OUTSIDE of City of Riverside and was not sent by any City Officials or City Staff. Do not click on links or open attachments unless you are expecting the email and know that the content is safe. If you suspect this is a phishing or malicious email, please contact the helpdesk.

Hello,
I am unable to attend the Riverside City Council

Meeting but wanted to address the Smoke-
Free Multi-Unit Housing issue on the agenda . I used to live in an apartment

complex that
prohibited smoking inside the unit but not outside the unit. My neighbor in this unit would smoke cannabis on his front porch. Because our porches were right next to each other, the smoke from the cannabis would draft into my home, even with my windows closed, and would cause my home to smell like cannabis. I am highly sensitive to smells, so I would feel sick in my own home. I would worry about people who have children as research has shown the detrimental impact of 2nd and 3rd hand smoke. Despite the prohibitions, my neighbors would also engage in smoking cannabis inside their apartments, which would then come into my home due to shared walls.Previous to this apartament, I lived in

another housing area in
which my downstairs neighbors would smoke cigarettes and cause our living area to smell like the smoke. I am inh full support of making multi-unit housing smoke free due to my personal experiences and the detrimental impact

that 2nd and 3rd hand smoke has on health. As we all
know, housing costs have skyrocketed. We should not be paying thousands of dollars to live in apartments and be subjected to our homes smelling like smoke and our health negatively

impacted.

Thank you,
Rebecca D.

04-26-2022
Item No.: 17
cc Mayor
City Council
City Manager
City Attorney
ACMs
DCM
1 From: Je
nnifer Stewart <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2022 9:37 AM
To: CityClerkMbx <[email protected]>
Subject: [External] Smoke free multi unit housing
CAUTION: This email is originated from OUTSIDE of City of Riverside and was not sent by any City Officials or City Staff.

Do not click on links or open atta chments unless you are expecting the email and know that the content is safe. If you suspect this is a phishing or malicious email, please contact the helpdesk.

As a resident of Ward 1 I fully support the smoke free multi unit housing proposal. Secondhand smoke (both cigarette and marijuana) is a health hazard. It is un fair that those who are unable to afford a home of their own need to be subjected to this. Please vote yes Jennifer Stewart
4435 Beechwood Pl
Riverside 92506
Sent from my iPhone
Date: 4-26-22
Item No.: 17
cc Mayor
City Council
City Manager
City Attorney
ACMs
CEDD Director
April 26, 2022
Dear Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson and Members of the City of Riverside City Council:

My name is Nadain Oudeh, and I am a resident of Riverside and American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) volunteer.

Thank you for considering the health and safety of our residents to protect the m from the dangers of secondhand smoke. Everyone deserves to breathe clean air in their homes, regardless of whether they can afford to rent or buy. I’m pleased to see the city’s intent to increase smoke‐free areas, especially for those who live in multi‐unit housing.

Secondhand smoke in mul ti ‐unit housing is especially troubling, as smoke can, and does, transfer between units, seeping under doorways, through electrical, plumbing, and ventilation systems, and even through cracks in the walls. The only way to eliminate secondhand smoke exposure is to prevent it.

I am especially concerned about secondhand smoke in multi‐unit housing du e to its impact on the most vulnerable people: children, seniors, and those who are ill or at risk for serious illness.

Smoke‐free spaces help former smokers stay quit and discourage youth from ever starting. Overall, limiting tobacco smoking is the right step forward for public health.

I urge you to adopt a strong comprehe
nsive smoke‐free policy that includes 100% smoke‐free protection for those who live in multi‐unit housing.

Nadain Oudeh
Riverside Resident
ACS CAN Volunteer
Date: 4-26-22
Item No. 17
cc Mayor
City Council
City Manager
City Attorney
ACMs
CEDD Director

Date: 4-26-22
Item No.: 17
cc Mayor
City Council
City Manager
City Attorney
ACMs
CEDD Director

1 From
: April Smith <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, November 6, 2019 6:28 AM
To: Nicol, Colleen <[email protected]>
Subject: [External] Help ban smoking in multi‐housing communities in Riverside County Dear City Manager Al Z
elinka,
Family is everything to me. That’s why I’m asking for your support to help ban smoking in multi-housing communities in Riverside. Our families’ lives depend on it.

Unwittingly, we are being exposed to secondhand smoke and that’s leading to serious health issues like asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia. It’s even been proven that secondhand smoke can cause Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and low birth weight.

And did you know that the U.S. Surgeon General reports there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke? And that, on average, children are exposed to more secondhand smoke than adults? It’s a very scary situation, one that we can’t solve from without your help.

So I urge you to please use your influence to help our community. Take action TODAY to help create and pass a city-wide policy that will help us breathe easier and have a healthier future.

Regards,
April Smith
5310 Canyon Crest Dr
Riverside, CA 92507
cc Mayor
City Council
City Manager
City Attorney
ACMs
CEDD Director
1 From: Bob Garcia <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2021 9:27 PM
To: CityClerkMbx <[email protected]>
Subject: [External] Smoke Free Housing
Hello! My name is Bob Garcia, and I am a Community Member in the Community of Casa Blanca.

I would like to share my input with you on why I support smoke free housing. As a child growing up, and into my adult years my father was a chain smoker, as well as aunts and un cles. They all smoked inside our household for many years, and I always questioned why we, my siblings and I, were always Ill from Colds, Coughs, Sore throats, and laryngitis, and had to see our physicians throughout the years. As time went by, aunts, un cles and my father as well passed which had to partly from smoking. When my father passed I contacted his physician with plenty of questions about what caused my father's passing. The response from the physician was my father's continuous heavy smoking, was mainly to what caused him to have strokes throughou t the years. My father lived until the age of 69. As a Diabetic, smoking is bad for Diabetics, as cigarettes have sugar in each cigarette. My mother and I continued with the illnesses until our home was fumigated, which assisted in taking out the years of accu mulation of the smoke odor throughout our household. As for two of my Siblings, they had heart attacks which was partially from smoking as well. My mother lived up to the age of 88, even though she lived in our home with my father being a chain smoker, and lived an additional 22 ye ars after my father's passing from other internal illnesses. Myself, I do not smoke, and if I have visitors and/ or relatives who smoke visiting, I kindly ask them to smoke outdoors, because it affects the lungs and internal organs.

Thank You for accepting my reasoning for a non smo king home or other forms of living arrangements for families in my community and throughout.

Respectfully,
With Peace, Prayers, and Blessings,
Bob/Bobby Garcia
cc Mayor
City Council
City Manager
City Attorney
ACMs
1 From: Zelinka, Al <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, March 3, 2021 2:42 PM
To: [email protected]
Cc: Arseo, Eva <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: [External] Please support a city‐wide smoke‐free multi‐unit housing policy Ms. Terriquez – Thank you for your email. As it concerned the City of Moreno Valley, I forwarded it to the City Manager of Moreno Valley, Mike Lee. Thank you for communicating your message with the City of Riv erside. Via this response, I will kindly ask our Interim City Clerk, Eva Arseo, to share this communication and your message as a public comment with the City of Riverside Mayor and City Council. Thank you, Al Zelinka, City Manager, City of Riverside From: Jennie Terriquez <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, March 3, 2021 2:12 PM
To: Arseo, Eva <[email protected]>
Subject: [External] Please support a city‐wide smoke‐free multi‐unit housing policy Dear City Manager Al Zelinka,
There’s a crucial issue that’s affecting the health of my family and many others in Moreno Valley, and I think you need to get involved. It’s secondhand smoking in multi‐unit housing.

The U.S
. General Surgeon has reported that there is NO safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. In fact, children that are exposed to secondhand smoke have a greater risk of developing lung diseases like asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia. The Surgeon General Report has also stated that Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is ca used by secondhand smoke.

Yet, Moreno Valley doesn’t have local ordinances in place to protect our families from secondhand smoke in multi‐unit housing!
You have the influence to change this, so I ask you to please support a city‐wide smoke free multi‐unit housing policy TODAY. Our children deser ve a better chance to live healthier lives, free from secondhand smoke Regards,
Jennie Terriquez
26183 Ferndale Ct
Moreno Valley, CA 92555 cc Mayor
City Council
City Manager
City Attorney
ACMs
DCM
1 From: Pranisha Gautam [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, September 30, 2019 10:04 PM
To: 2Mayor <[email protected]>
Subject: [External] Concerned about toxic secondhand smoke Dear Mayor Rusty Bailey,
I’m concerned about the rapidly escalating amount of toxic secondhand smoke in the air from vaping, marijuana, and cigarettes. It’s practically everywhere like in places such as public parks, restaurant patios, shopping centers, transit stops, recreational faciliites, and sidewalks. The problem is only getting worse in large part to the rise of vaping and marijuana use in California. According to the California Adult Tobacco Survey, e‐cigarette secondhand exposure increased more than 65% in two years, and marijuana secondhand smoke nearly doubled! As you may already know, the U.S. Surgeon General has said there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. This is the reason I’d like to encourage you to enact new and stricter smokefree policies in public and private spaces across our community.

As a resident of our city, I believe everyone has the right to breathe clean air. Yet I find myself constantly exposed to toxic secondhand smoke. Any exposure can be harmful, especially to children, older adults, and people with a disability.

The consequences of secondhand smoke exposure are severe and can lead to fatal health issues such as cancer, stroke, serious respiratory illnesses and heart disease.

I’m asking for your leadership in addressing the rise of secondhand smoke in our city. You have my full support to limit the number of places people are allowed to smoke and I encourage the enforcement of such rules. I think we can all agree that it would make our city a healthier, more enjoyable place to call home.

Sincerely,
Pranisha Gautam
cc Mayor
City Council
City Manager
City Attorney
ACMs

November 5, 2020

Mayor Rusty Bailey and Riverside City Council
City of Riverside
3900 Main Street
Riverside, CA 92522

Dear Mayor Bailey and Riverside City Council:

As Dean of the UC Riverside School of Medicine I am writing to provide my expertise in support of the goal to achieve 100% smoke-free multi-unit housing in the City of Riverside.

The UCR School of Medicine is deeply invested in helping improve the health of the medically underserved in the Inland Empire, we concur with the U.S. Surgeon General that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. In 2006, the California Air Resources Board classified secondhand smoke as a “Toxic Air Contaminant” in the same category as asbestos, cyanide and arsenic – all of which can lead to serious illness and death. Nonsmoking residents of multi-unit housing complexes who choose to make their units smoke-free may still be exposed to secondhand smoke that travels through shared air vents and ducts, cracks in walls, gaps around electrical wiring, and through floorboards. Many multi-unit residents are affected by secondhand smoke, especially children, elderly, and people with existing health conditions such as asthma, COPD, and heart disease.

Further, I recognize the need to provide increased access to smoking cessation programs, especially for existing residents. In addition, I support measures to ensure that vulnerable populations and communities of color are not impacted in a disproportionate way by any fines and/or enforcement that may be necessary to support an ordinance.

A citywide ordinance that would require all multi-unit housing in the City of Riverside to be smoke-free would be a step in the right direction to improved health for our communities. By prohibiting smoking in 100% of units, we can protect residents from the dangers of exposure to secondhand smoke. By also addressing increased access to smoking cessation programs, and ensuring fair and equitable enforcement, we can truly improve the health of our entire community.

Th
ank you for your consideration.

Sin
cerely,
De
borah Deas, MD, MPH
Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences
Mark and Pam Rubin Dean
cc Mayor
City Council
City Manager
City Attorney
ACMs
DCM
1 Subject: FW: [External] e comment agenda item 25 regarding smoking regulations From: Greg Taber <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 10, 2022 7:57 AM
To: CityClerkMbx <[email protected]>
Subject: [External] e comment agenda item 25 regarding smoking regulations Honorable City Council:

My family owns and manages Bunker Hill Apartments, located at Central and Canyon Crest, here in town.

I wanted to share my perspective on the proposed smoking ban on apartment properties.

First, I would ask you to consider not making it retroactive; make the law apply to new residents only, similar to Jurupa Valley’s ordinance.

If you are going to include existing residents, please give us more time to implement it. We use ‘month-to-month’ agreements. Remember, from the resident’s perspective, the reason why they get 30 days before we can change the terms of the tenancy is so that they can move out if they don’t want to be subject to the new condition. The date in 6.27.060 B 1 should be revised from June 9, 2022 to July 1, 2022.

I would like to have more direction regarding the signage. It would be helpful to have something explicitly stating that you do not expect the management to post signs in every room of every unit. (obviously, we would post signs in the rec room, rest rooms and laundry rooms). Also, the ordinance should state that signage at each driveway approach would be sufficient to cover the grounds….there are just too many places on our 8 acre site where someone could say “there isn’t any sign here that says I can’t smoke here”
I believe the reference in 6.27.060 C needs to be revised….right now it refers back to itself.

Thank you for your consideration,
Greg Taber
[email protected]
951-378-2366
1 From: Merk, Gary <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 10, 2022 9:06 AM
To: Plascencia, Gaby <[email protected]>; Greg Taber <[email protected]>; Ruiz, Araceli <[email protected]>; Perry, Jim <[email protected]>; Garcia Vazquez, Sandy <[email protected]> Subject: RE: [External] no smoking orf in aprs
Good morning Mr. Taber,
Staff is developing and informational flyer that includes all of the information you are seeking, but until then, I have attached a copy of the ordinance for your convenience.

With regard to some of your concerns, the ordinance will be appli cable to any new leases executed after June 9th, 2022.

Existing leases will be required to include smoke free provisions at time of renewal or renegotiation. In terms of signage, the ordinance reads specifically:

A. “Such signs shall be posted not less than five feet nor more than eight feet above the floor and shall be of sufficient number and location to cause the message of the signs to be clearly visible and readable.” Our interpretation of this is that exterior signs be posted conspicuously throughout the compl ex (ideally at points of entry and in common areas) This language was taken from other such ordinances and leaves management the discretion to post signs that are most visible based on the configuration of their complex.

Again, there is no expectation for signs to be posted in every dwelling unit, but a basic rule of thu mb would be at every entrance and in common areas.

In terms of your comment on section 6.27.060 (C), I will check with our City Attorney’s Office and determine if there is some correction needed here. Thank you!
Kind regards,
Gary T. Merk
Code Enf
orcement Manager
City of Riverside
From: Plasce
ncia, Gaby <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 9, 2022 7:40 PM
To: Greg Taber <[email protected]>; Merk, Gary <[email protected]>; Ruiz, Araceli <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [External] no smoking orf in aprs
Hello Mr. Taber,
Date: 5-10-22
Item No.: 25
2 I appreciate you reaching out with your perspective. I’m including Gary to see if he can chime in on some of the questions you have.

Araceli can you send Mr. Taber the approved ordinance?
Thank you,
Gaby
Get Outlook for iOS
From: Greg Taber <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 9, 2022 4:50:21 PM
To: Plascencia, Gaby <[email protected]>
Subject: [External] no smoking orf in aprs
Greetings Councilmember Plascencia,
My family owns and manages Bunker Hill Apartments, located at Central and Canyon Crest, here in town.

I wanted to share my perspective on the proposed smoking ban on apartment properties.

First, I would ask you to consider not making it retroactive; make the law apply to new tenants only, similar to Jurupa Valley’s ordinance.

If you are going to include existing tenants, please give us more time to implement it. 45 to 60 days should be sufficient. Remember, from the tenant’s perspective, the reason why they get 30 days before we can change the terms of the tenancy is so that they can move out if they don’t want to be subject to the new condition.

Thank you for your consideration,
Greg Taber 951-378-2366
cc Mayor
City Council
City Manager
City Attorney
ACMs
CEDD Director
1 ‐
Michael Harrop
Date: 5-10-22
Item No.: 25
F
From: Michael Harrop <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 16, 2022 8:00 AM
To: Perry, Jim <[email protected]>; 2Mayor <[email protected]> Subject: [External] Smoke‐free multi‐unit housing ordinance Hello,
I saw that you have a vote coming up for an ordinance to ban smoking in multi‐unit housing.

I live in 92505 in an apartment. I've lived in various apartments most of my life. I strongly support this smoke‐free ordinance.

I've had years of horrific experiences from neighbors filling my apartment with cigarette smoke. It condenses (and thus worsens) when it comes through the walls, and it often sticks around from the previous tenant. It frequently made my apartment unlivable. I would be forced to sleep in my car, keep all windows and doors open during hot summer, and had to move out of multiple apartments because of it.

It's well proven to be harmful to our health, and it certainly violates our right/ability for "quiet enjoyment". I would say it's worse than noise, lights, etc., which are already illegal. I support people's individual rights to do what they want, but that ends when it starts trespassing on other's rights, and I think sending harmful smoke into a neighbor's apartment qualifies as such.
cc Mayor
City Council
City Manager
City Attorney
ACMs
CEDD Director
Future CC date: 6-14-22

Riverside City CouncilJune 14, 2022

Riverside City Council
June 14, 2022