From: Monica Wilson
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public Comment
Date: Tuesday, June 4, 2024 10:58:14 AM
Attachments: M. Wilson TRL Testimony Santa Rosa (6 4 24) (1).docx Good morning,
I actually submitted my public comment letter yesterday at 2pm. For some reason it bounced back. Can you please add this to today's City Council public comment section.
Thank you,
Dr. Wilson
June 4, 2024
Dear City Council Members of Santa Rosa,
My name is Dr. Monica Wilson, and I am a parent of four children and an advocate with Parents Against Vaping (PAVe). I am here to strongly urge the enforcement of the ban on flavored e- cigarettes and other flavored tobacco products as mandated by Senate Bill (SB) 793, signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom and upheld by California voters on November 8, 2022.
As a parent, my foremost concern is the health and well-being of my children. Flavored tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, are particularly appealing to young people due to their sweet, fruity, and minty flavors. These products are designed to mask the harshness of tobacco, making them more palatable and enticing to youth. The tobacco industry's targeting of our children with these flavored products is deeply concerning and poses a significant public health risk.
The data is alarming. Studies have shown that flavored tobacco products are a primary driver of youth tobacco use. According to the 2023 National Youth Tobacco Survey, 90% of young people who have ever used tobacco started with a flavored product. The sweet flavors act as a gateway, leading to nicotine addiction and increasing the likelihood of progressing to traditional cigarette smoking. As a result, our children face a higher risk of severe health consequences, including respiratory issues, cardiovascular disease, and long-term addiction. The impact of nicotine on a child’s brain which is not fully developed until his/her mid 20s, can be devastating - nicotine negatively affects impulse control and attention.
Governor Newsom's signing of SB 793 and its subsequent endorsement by California voters was a monumental step in protecting our children from the dangers of flavored tobacco.
However, the effectiveness of this law depends on rigorous enforcement at the local level. It is imperative that retailers comply with the ban and that violations are promptly addressed to prevent these harmful products from reaching our youth.
As an advocate with PAVe, I have seen firsthand the devastating impact that vaping has had on families across California. Parents are often unaware of the dangers posed by e-cigarettes and flavored tobacco products until it is too late. We need robust enforcement to ensure that these products are not available in our communities, particularly to our children.
I urge the City Council of Santa Rosa to take decisive action in enforcing SB 793. This includes regular inspections of retail locations, strict penalties for non-compliance, and ongoing public education campaigns to raise awareness about the dangers of flavored tobacco products. By doing so, we can protect the health of our children and prevent a new generation from becoming addicted to nicotine.
In closing, I want to emphasize that this is not just a regulatory issue; it is a moral imperative. As parents, community members, and leaders, we have a responsibility to safeguard the health and future of our children. I implore you to enforce the ban on flavored e-cigarettes and other flavored tobacco products with the utmost diligence and urgency.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Dr. Monica Wilson
Parents Against Vaping Advocate/California Region Director [email protected]
From: Jasmine Hunt
To: City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Letter of Support Re: Agenda Item 13.7 Date: Tuesday, June 4, 2024 1:58:21 PM
Attachments: Outlook-pofkjvpr.png
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Santa Rosa City Council Letter of Support_NCCWB.pdf
Sent on behalf of Karissa Moreno, Executive Director of the Northern California Center for Well-Being:
I respectfully submit this letter of support for the Tobacco Retail License, agenda item 13.7 at today's Council meeting.
In Community,
Karissa Moreno
Sent by Jasmine Hunt, Director of Community Programs
Jasmine Hunt, MA (she/her)
Director of Community Programs | Center for Well-Being
Direct: 707.308.1695 | Main: 707.575.6043
norcalwellbeing.org
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Vaping represents a serious threat to the immediate and long-term health of youth, including hospitalization, permanent lung damage, and even death. Teens who use e-cigarettes are more likely to smoke cigarettes in the future.i
We know that nicotine addiction often originates in adolescence with studies showing that close to 90% of adult daily smokers started before the age of 18, and that teens are more susceptible to nicotine addiction.ii
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), youth are more likely than adults to use e-cigarettes. The updated 2022 “Monitoring the Future” National Survey shows that 7% of 8th graders, 14% of 10th graders, and 21% of 12th graders have vaped nicotine in the past 30 days.iii Puff Bar is the most popular vaping product. One Puff Bar contains as much nicotine as at least 50 cigarettes.iv
Nicotine use in any form remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death and is directly responsible for one in five deaths nationally.vi In Sonoma County, tobacco use is responsible for an estimated 503 deaths annually, representing 13% of total annual deaths.vii
We know that tobacco kills. We know that Big Tobacco targets youth, communities of color, and the LGBTQIA+ community with the predatory marketing of flavored tobacco products and vape products. It is imperative that we prioritize the health and well-being of historically marginalized communities and our children.
Changes in public policy are among the most effective approaches to achieve optimal health outcomes for county residents. Considering current alarming trends, I strongly urge you to adopt policies to reduce and prevent access to vaping and tobacco for our youth. While a ban on flavored tobacco sales and e-cigarettes is now the law in California (Senate Bill 793), the law has a weak point that enables continued access to these products: it does not support local code enforcement.
This TRL will create local structures to enforce and hold retailers accountable.
Please continue your intention to move forward with a strong Tobacco Retail License to prohibit the sale of flavored tobacco products and all e-cigarettes, limit new retailers near schools and parks, and limit the transfer of licenses.
Thank you,
Karissa Moreno
Executive Director
Northern California Center for Well-Being
From: Max Perrey
To: Alvarez, Eddie; Stapp, Mark; MacDonald, Dianna; Fleming, Victoria; Rogers, Chris; Okrepkie, Jeff; Rogers, Natalie; CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Strong Support for TRL Second Reading Date: Tuesday, June 4, 2024 2:04:37 PM
Attachments: image001.png
Aliados Health TRL Santa Rosa Second Reading.pdf
Dear Mayor Rogers and Members of the City Council,
Attached is our letter strongly supporting the TRL’s adoption.
Best, Max
Max Perrey (he/him) Why do pronouns matter? Read more here.
Director, Policy & External Affairs
Aliados Health
[email protected]
(415) 450-0774 (m)
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CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE
This electronic message contains information from Aliados Health, which is confidential or privileged. The information is intended to be sent to the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, be aware that any disclosure, copying or distribution or use of the contents of this information is prohibited If you have received this electronic transmission in error, please notify us by telephone at (707) 792-7900.
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE This electronic message contains information from Aliados Health, which is confidential or privileged. The information is intended to be sent to the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, be aware that any disclosure, copying or distribution, or use of the contents of this information is prohibited. If you have received this electronic transmission in error, please notify us by telephone at (707) 792-7900.