MINNEAPOLIS PASSES STRONG ORDINANCE Ordinance restricts indoor e-cigarette usage in public indoor spaces Minneapolis, Minn. – The Minneapolis City Council continued its strong leadership in protecting the health and safety of its residents on Friday morning. The City Council voted unanimously to prohibit electronic cigarette use in most public indoor spaces. The ordinance update means the use of electronic cigarettes is not allowed anywhere conventional cigarette use is also not allowed, such as restaurants and bars. This ordinance change helps protect the general public from exposure to electronic cigarette emissions, which are known to contain ingredients that are harmful to human health. Further, this ordinance upholds a smoke-free norm and protects youth from exposure to these products, which is important given that electronic cigarettes are becoming popular with high school students. The recent Minnesota Youth Tobacco Survey, released in November, shows 28 percent of high school students have tried e-cigarettes, and 13 percent have used or tried them in the past 30 days. Nearly a quarter of those who have tried e-cigarettes have never tried conventional tobacco products. “We are thrilled that the Minneapolis City Council has taken this important step to protect Minneapolis workers, residents, and visitors” said Betsy Brock, Research Director for the Association for Nonsmokers-Minnesota (ANSR).

Bloomington, Minn. – The City of Bloomington continued its strong leadership regarding the health and safety of its residents, particularly youth, on Nov. 17, 2104. The Bloomington City Council voted unanimously to include electronic cigarettes in its clean indoor air ordinance and set a minimum price for single cigars at $2.60 each. All cigars sold in packages of less than five must be priced at $2.60 each. For example, a two-pack of cigars would cost $5.20, a three-pack would cost $7.80 and up to five. Increasing the price of tobacco is the single most effective way to prevent youth tobacco initiation. The ordinance, which puts an end to 50-cent cigars being sold in Bloomington, will prevent many youth from starting a lifelong deadly addiction. In 2004, the city set a high standard for clean indoor air by restricting smoking in workplaces and public indoor spaces and by preventing smoking 25 feet from entrances. The city also prohibited smoking in parks. The ordinance update means the use of electronic cigarettes is not allowed anywhere conventional cigarette use is also not allowed, such as restaurants and bars. “A decade ago, the Bloomington City Council showed its commitment to public health when it amended our ordinances in favor of smoke-free workspaces and public places,” Bloomington city council member Cynthia Bemis Abrams said. “(Monday’s) vote aligns limits on e-cigarettes to regular cigarettes, so that our local businesses can be consistent with enforcement, and our residents and visitors can be confident that the air they breathe, in their offices or in a restaurant, is clean.” These ordinance changes help protect youth from two tobacco products popular with youth. Cigarette use among middle and high school students has decreased dramatically in the past decade, but cigar use has not. Also, the recent Minnesota Youth Tobacco Survey, released last week, shows 28 percent of high school students have tried e-cigarettes, and 13 percent have used or tried them in the past 30 days. Nearly a quarter of those who have tried e-cigarettes have never tried conventional products. “We are thrilled that the Bloomington City Council took this common-sense step to protect the health of residents and visitors,” said Betsy Brock, Research Director for the Association for Nonsmokers-Minnesota (ANSR). In raising the price of single cigars, Bloomington joins Saint Paul and Brooklyn Center as the only cities in Minnesota to pass such strong ordinances to prevent youth initiation to smoking. Bloomington is also among 15 cities and two counties to treat e-cigarettes the same as conventional cigarettes in indoor public spaces.

Program members, including director Damone Presley, celebrate an ordinance in Saint Paul that increases the price of cheap, flavored cigars. The Ramsey Tobacco Coalition is celebrating a huge victory!  Saint Paul is now the largest city in the state to require cigars to be sold at a minimum price of $2.10 unless sold in a pack of five.  On August 27, the City Council voted unanimously in support of the ordinance, which will make these products less appealing and accessible to young people. This work began more than a year ago when the Ramsey Tobacco Coalition conducted an assessment of cigars in the retail environment.  Cigars were being sold for as little as 50 cents. Youth members of the group Vision in Living Life – Change is Possible saw that as a problem.  They recognized that low-priced cigars were yet another tobacco industry tactic meant to target them. These products were appealing and affordable to people their age. “People my age or even younger than me can get ahold of these cigarillos for cheaper than some candy,” said Kenyan Green, a sophomore at Johnson High and Vision in Living Life member. The Ramsey Tobacco Coalition identified many possible solutions and presented them to the youth, who decided that making these products more expensive was key to reducing cigar use among their peers. The Vision in Living Life youth and other coalition partners began educating Saint Paul residents and leaders. They spoke up for a healthier, safer community.  They found that many community members supported their efforts. The youth members met with each of the councilmembers to explain how the use of these cheap cigars impacts their neighborhoods and lives. Their hard work paid off. The Saint Paul City Council showed its commitment to protecting the health and safety of its youth by enacting a strong tobacco prevention ordinance. “I am proud of the members of my youth leadership group for speaking up for a healthier and safer community,” Damone Presley, program director for Vision in Living Life – Change is Possible, said. The City Council voted unanimously to set a minimum price for single cigars at $2.10 each. All cigars in packages of less than five must be priced at $2.10 each. For example, a two-pack of cigars would cost $4.20, a three-pack would cost $6.30 and up to five. Increasing the price of tobacco is the single most effective way to prevent youth tobacco initiation. The ordinance, which puts an end to 50-cent cigars being sold in Saint Paul, will prevent many youth from starting a lifelong deadly addiction. Council member Dai Thao, sponsor of the ordinance, said during the hearing on the ordinance that it is the council’s responsibility to create a healthy community. “This issue is about the underlying problem of the tobacco companies’ intentional marketing to youth and communities of color,” Thao said. Saint Paul has joined Brooklyn Center as only the second city in Minnesota to pass this strong youth tobacco prevention ordinance. It is the largest city in the state to do so and sets the tone for the rest of the state, said Alicia Leizinger, RTC program and policy specialist. “Saint Paul has taken a strong stand against the tobacco industry’s relentless efforts to addict young people to their deadly products,” Leizinger said. “By raising the price of cheap cigars, they took an important step in breaking the cycle of addiction for the next generation. We consider this to be a big first step, but there is more to be done. “We will work with the City of Saint Paul to inform vendors of the new law. We will continue to work with council member Thao and the rest of the council to find even more ways to help prevent youth tobacco addiction.” Our partners were instrumental in advocating for this ordinance and ultimately, its passage.  We couldn’t do it without them!

Members of RTC and LAAMPP celebrate Ramsey County Commissioners’ resolution to implement 24/7 smoke-free foster care. The Ramsey Tobacco Coalition (RTC) worked with the Leadership and Advocacy Institute to Advance Minnesota’s Parity for Priority Populations (LAAMPP) program to advocate for 24/7 smoke-free foster care. RTC and LAAMPP advocates met with Ramsey County Commissioners Toni Carter, Blake Huffman, Jim McDonough, Mary Jo McGuire, Rafael Ortega and Victoria Reinhardt to discuss instituting this measure in the county. The commissioners voiced their support for protecting these youth, who are wards of the state. In March, the commission passed a resolution directing the Ramsey County Community Human Services department to implement this policy in Ramsey County.  This would provide smoke-free homes to protect the children and ensure a safe environment. About the resolution This resolution is an important part of ensuring that our state’s foster children are placed in safe and healthy homes. Data show 90 percent of children in the child welfare system have at least one chronic health condition. Exposure to secondhand smoke can aggravate these existing health conditions as well as increase the child’s risk for ear infections, asthma attacks, respiratory infections and SIDS. Every licensed foster home in Ramsey County is now expected to maintain a smoke-free environment when foster children or adolescents are in the residence. Ramsey County is the ninth county in Minnesota to protect foster children from secondhand smoke; one tribal government has enacted a similar policy. We will continue to work with Ramsey County staff on implementation of this policy, including providing cessation resources. We also look forward to seeing what state leaders do to protect Minnesota’s foster children. You can read more about the resolution in the Pioneer Press .