Agenda Item # 11.5 - Vanessa Marvin | Received 01/18/2023CAUTION: This email originated from an External Source. Please use proper judgment and caution when opening
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From:Vanessa Marvin
To:City Clerk; All Council Members
Cc:CarolIne Baker
Subject:EXTERNAL - January 23 Public Comment for Agenda Item #11.5 (Proposed Modifications to Chapter 19B,
Smoking Pollution Control, Banning Smoking From Multi-Family Developments and Public Events)
Date:Tuesday, January 17, 2023 10:20:06 PM
Attachments:Tobacco Free Coalition Letter Gilroy January 2023.pdf
Dear Mayor Blankley and Members of the Gilroy City Council,
Attached is a letter from the Tobacco-Free Coalition of Santa Clara County to support you moving forward to protect Gilroy residents
from drifting secondhand smoke during your January 23rd city council meeting. (Agenda Item #11.5-Proposed Modifications to Chapter
19B, Smoking Pollution Control, Banning Smoking From Multi-Family Developments and Public Events)
We appreciate your focus on this important topic.
Sincerely,
Vanessa Marvin & Carol Baker
Tobacco-Free Coalition, Co-Chairs
1775 Story Road, Suite 120
San Jose, CA 95122
Gilroy City Council
City Hall
73151 Rosanna Street
Gilroy, CA 95020
January 17, 2023
Dear Mayor and Council Members,
The Tobacco-Free CoaliFon of Santa Clara County, which consists of organizaFons and individuals
interested in promoFng the health of our ciFzens, is excited to hear that you are discussing secondhand
smoke issues at your January 23 meeFng (Agenda Item #11.5-Proposed Modifica9ons to Chapter 19B,
Smoking Pollu9on Control, Banning Smoking From Mul9-Family Developments and Public Events).
As you know, secondhand smoke exposure is harmful and potentially deadly. The U.S. Surgeon General has
stated that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. It can contribute to health
problems such as asthma, heart disease, lung cancer and stroke. Children, the elderly and the disabled —
our most vulnerable citizens — are also the most vulnerable to secondhand smoke.
We appreciate the fact that Gilroy has already taken the step to protect residents from secondhand smoke
in parks.
There are other strong policy options that would further protect residents of Gilroy from secondhand
smoke. Many of these have passed in other cities across Santa Clara County already. These include:
•Public Events
•Multi-Unit Housing Common Areas
•Multi-Unit Housing Units
The home is a prominent source of secondhand smoke exposure for both young and old mulF-unit
housing residents. Across Santa Clara County more than 1 in 2 residents living in mulF-unit housing are
exposed to secondhand smoke in their home. Higher exposure rates are also correlated with different
racial groups, lower income levels and educaFonal a[ainment.
It brings us hope to hear that Gilroy is considering how to join other Santa Clara County jurisdictions in
expanding secondhand smoke protections.
Our coalition strongly encourages you to consider these policies at your meeting on January 23 to protect
the health of Gilroy residents. We look forward to working with you to support this effort.
Sincerely,
Vanessa Marvin, Co-Chair Carol Baker, Co-Chair
vmarvin@me.com carol@carolandcharliebaker.com