Agenda Item # 11.5 - Dianna Zamora-Marroquin | Received 01/18/2023
January 18, 2023
Gilroy Mayor and City Council Members
Gilroy City Hall
7351 Rosanna Street
Gilroy, CA 95020
RE: Agenda Item #11.5- Proposed Modifications to Chapter 19B
Dear Mayor and Gilroy City Council Members:
As a local health care provider, Planned Parenthood Mar Monte supports decreasing exposure to
secondhand smoke. Creating comprehensive policies and programs that strengthen the Gilroy City Code
Chapter 19B Smoking Pollution Control is an important step in achieving that goal. Smoking and
exposure to secondhand smoke increase the risk for respiratory infections, weakens the immune system
and is a major cause of several chronic health conditions, including obstructive pulmonary disease, heart
disease and diabetes to name a few. Children, the elderly, and people with disabilities are especially
vulnerable to exposure of secondhand smoke and are often the least able to avoid it. Smoke travels
through doorways, cracks in walls, electrical outlets, ventilation systems, and plumbing, regularly
exposing non-smokers to secondhand smoke.
The County of Santa Clara Public Health Department Tobacco prevention unit is able to provide support
for the development of an outreach and stakeholder plan, reports, ordinance language, and other
technical assistance to help create programs that decrease exposure to secondhand smoke.
We look forward to supporting policies and programs that reduce harming the health of our most
vulnerable community members and strengthen the Gilroy City Code Chapter 19B Smoking Pollution
Control policy.
Sincerely,
Dianna Zamora-Marroquin
Dianna Zamora-Marroquin
Director of Public Affairs
Planned Parenthood Mar Monte