Smoke-Free Beaches: The Next Wave in Tobacco Control Efforts
In 2004, 53 miles
(66%) of
The Los Angeles
County Tobacco Control and Prevention Program (TCPP) and other tobacco control
advocates are still working to ban smoking in the other cities – in particular Torrance,
Redondo Beach, and other South Bay Cities.
The intended outcome is to prohibit smoking on all beaches in
Policy Initiation
The California Tobacco Tax Initiative, Proposition
99, was passed in 1988. Prop 99 imposed
a 25 cent tax on every pack of cigarettes sold to be used for tobacco
prevention, control and research efforts throughout the state. The California Tobacco Control Program uses a
comprehensive approach to change the broad social norms around the use of
tobacco by creating a social milieu and legal climate in which tobacco becomes
less desirable, less acceptable, and less accessible.
One strategy has
been a statewide effort to ban outdoor smoking.
The effort stems from scientific evidence that secondhand smoke is an
outdoor hazard and that a significant number of Californians don’t want to be
exposed to outdoor tobacco smoke.
TCPP was created
in 1989 to address tobacco issues in the County, and has been funded solely by
Prop 99 funds since that date. TCPP
serves as the state local lead agency for the County.
TCPP has
contracted with a several community-based agencies to work on smoke-free
outdoor areas. After passing smoke-free
park policies in several cities in 2003, TCPP and our contractors began working
on smoke-free beaches. At about the same
time, a
Public Health Agency Roles
Using
Proposition 99 funds, the Los Angeles County Tobacco Control and Prevention
Program (TCPP) funded several agencies to work on this issue. The agencies were organized into a
task-force, known as COAST (Communities Organized Against Smoking and it
Trash). TCPP staff facilitated and managed
the task force, providing expert technical assistance. In addition, TCPP conducted strategy sessions
with contractors and other partners to assist them in preparing for meetings
with meetings with local officials, and providing public testimony at official
meetings. TCPP developed information kits that included fact sheets, data reports,
model ordinances, and GIS maps. Agencies
used the kits to educate the community and local officials. TCPP staff also
attended city council meetings, mobilized other community agencies to attend
important meetings and events, and provided education-based talking points to
individuals providing public testimony on the issue.
Major Partners
In addition to the
partners listed above, TCPP contracted with the following community-based
agencies: Healthier Solutions, Inc., Girls Club of Los Angeles, Peoples Core,
and the Southbay Coalition. These
agencies were the primary members of COAST.
COAST partnered
with the following agencies: Los Angeles City Council members, Santa Monica
Mayor, Malibu Mayor, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Surfrider
Foundation, Heal the Bay, American Heart Association, American Lung
Association, and the American Cancer Society.
Official Support
The primary
champions of this campaign were the Los Angeles City Council members, the
mayors of
Results from the Policy
Crediting the
efforts in
Lessons Learned
The following
were the most important lessons learned from this effort:
Crafting a local identity
Local officials
want to hear from residents of their jurisdiction. Also, it is helpful for community agencies to
be physically located in the community where they are working to pass policy.
Garner Community Support
It is very
helpful to have a strong community coalition comprised of residents,
volunteers, and community agencies willing to take an active role in the
campaign. The community is needed to
give presentations to other organizations and local businesses near or on the
beach, provide public testimony at meetings of city council, commissions, and
other legislative bodies, and conduct surveys to demonstrate community support.
Do Your Research
It is important
to know about other tobacco-related policies that have passed or failed in
targeted cities and the reasons for the successes and/or failures. Find out tobacco-related voting records of
individual council members. This will help identify potential legislative
champions and/or potential detractors.
Additional Information
See PDF Map
attachment “Beach_Sep05v2.pdf”
Submitted By
Linda Aragon,
MPH
Director
3530 Wilshire
Blvd. Suite 800
Los Angeles, CA 90010
(213) 351-7811
(213) 351-2709 FAX
Further Contact Information:
(213) 351-7890 (TCPP's mainline)