Press
Long wait for supporters of ban
Apr 13, 2011
Telegram & Gazette
April 13, 2011
WORCESTER — In the hallway outside the City Council chamber, moments after the council gave initial approval to four sweeping amendments to the city’s tobacco control ordinance, about two dozen members of the Healthy Options for Prevention and Education Coalition were celebrating the culmination of more than four years of work.
Members of the group, primarily made up of high school students and minority residents, posed for pictures with each other, and hugs were abound.
Led by Laurie Ross, an assistant professor at Clark University , the HOPE Coalition fought for and won tougher restrictions on the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products in the city.
Though one more council vote must still be taken on April 26 for the amendments to be enacted, their approval is virtually certain as a result of last night’s votes to advertise them.
They include a ban on the sale of tobacco by health care providers, including chain pharmacies and drugstores, and local institutions of higher education. There will also be a citywide ban on the sale of so-called “blunt wraps” — a cigarette-like rolling paper that is usually made from tobacco leaves.
And perhaps the most sweeping of all the amendments is one that will prohibit the advertisement of cigarettes and tobacco products in areas where they can be viewed from public streets, parks, schools and institutions of higher education.
“There is not a more critical issue than this,” said District 2 Councilor Philip P. Palmieri. “Working with the HOPE Coalition on this the past four years has had a profound impact on me. This is a health issue, not a political issue.”
As chairman of the council’s Public Health and Human Services Committee, Mr. Pa lmieri worked closely with the grass-roots HOPE Coalition on fashioning amendments to the city’s tobacco control ordinance intended to help reduce the rate of smoking among the city’s population.
An estimated 31,265 smokers live in Worcester , according to public health officials. They said 23.7 percent of adults living in Worcester older than 18 smoke — a level that is 47 percent higher than the statewide level of 16.1 percent.
District 3 Councilor Paul P. Clancy Jr., who supported all four amendments, noted that they originated from the citizenry, in this case the HOPE Coalition, and not the council. He said it is the kind of citizen involvement the council has long encouraged.
“When something like this is brought before us by our citizens, we need to listen,” Mr. Clancy said.
Councilor-at-Large Konstantina B. Lukes, who did not support the ban on the sale of tobacco in pharmacies, was among the several city councilors who also praised the efforts of the HOPE Coalition, which has a goal to reduce youth violence, drug use and to promote youth leadership.
“You brought this City Council to its heels,” Mrs. Lukes said to the members of the HOPE Coalition. “No matter what happens, you have certainly made a difference in this community.”
Back in 2006, the HOPE Coalition documented more than 300 stores in the city that sell tobacco, as well as the related outdoor signs that advertise cigarettes.
Many of the high school students involved in the youth-advocacy project became outraged when they noticed a majority of tobacco-selling stores were in low-income, high-minority neighborhoods that are home to many young teens.
That prompted the HOPE Coalition to then push for a ban on the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies because it felt that as a health care provider, such establishments should not be selling a product that is detrimental to one’s health. It also actively sought tougher restrictions on the advertising of tobacco products.
While there was a general consensus among the council on three of the four amendments, there was a significant division among members on banning chain pharmacies and drug stores from selling tobacco products.
Even though all members agreed that something needs to be done to reduce the smoking rate among Worcester residents, several councilors argued it was unfair to specifically target pharmacies while allowing cigarettes and other tobacco products to still be sold in convenience stores, gas stations and liquor stores.
As a result, they do not feel having such a limited ban will reduce smoking at all. Some even suggested that a total citywide ban on the sale of tobacco in Worcester would be a fairer way to address the issue instead of targeting just one business.
“Our goal is to reduce smoking in Worcester , but having government get in the way of a competitive situation between businesses is not the way to do it,” said District 5 Councilor William J. Eddy. “Government should not be deciding who should be doing better and who should not be doing better.”
But Councilor-at-Large Joseph M. Petty said while the amendment may not be perfect, it is a starting point. He said the fact that the smoking rate among the city’s population is considerably higher than the statewide average is a cause of major concern.
“We have a major health problem in this city,” Mr. Petty said. “But Worcester is not going to change unless we start somewhere. This may seem unfair to some, but that’s how a lot of people felt when we voted not to allow smoking in restaurants. This is the right thing to do, so let’s do it.”
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Telegram & Gazette
April 13, 2011
WORCESTER — In the hallway outside the City Council chamber, moments after the council gave initial approval to four sweeping amendments to the city’s tobacco control ordinance, about two dozen members of the Healthy Options for Prevention and Education Coalition were celebrating the culmination of more than four years of work.
Members of the group, primarily made up of high school students and minority residents, posed for pictures with each other, and hugs were abound.
Led by Laurie Ross, an assistant professor at Clark University , the HOPE Coalition fought for and won tougher restrictions on the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products in the city.
Though one more council vote must still be taken on April 26 for the amendments to be enacted, their approval is virtually certain as a result of last night’s votes to advertise them.
They include a ban on the sale of tobacco by health care providers, including chain pharmacies and drugstores, and local institutions of higher education. There will also be a citywide ban on the sale of so-called “blunt wraps” — a cigarette-like rolling paper that is usually made from tobacco leaves.
And perhaps the most sweeping of all the amendments is one that will prohibit the advertisement of cigarettes and tobacco products in areas where they can be viewed from public streets, parks, schools and institutions of higher education.
“There is not a more critical issue than this,” said District 2 Councilor Philip P. Palmieri. “Working with the HOPE Coalition on this the past four years has had a profound impact on me. This is a health issue, not a political issue.”
As chairman of the council’s Public Health and Human Services Committee, Mr. Pa lmieri worked closely with the grass-roots HOPE Coalition on fashioning amendments to the city’s tobacco control ordinance intended to help reduce the rate of smoking among the city’s population.
An estimated 31,265 smokers live in Worcester , according to public health officials. They said 23.7 percent of adults living in Worcester older than 18 smoke — a level that is 47 percent higher than the statewide level of 16.1 percent.
District 3 Councilor Paul P. Clancy Jr., who supported all four amendments, noted that they originated from the citizenry, in this case the HOPE Coalition, and not the council. He said it is the kind of citizen involvement the council has long encouraged.
“When something like this is brought before us by our citizens, we need to listen,” Mr. Clancy said.
Councilor-at-Large Konstantina B. Lukes, who did not support the ban on the sale of tobacco in pharmacies, was among the several city councilors who also praised the efforts of the HOPE Coalition, which has a goal to reduce youth violence, drug use and to promote youth leadership.
“You brought this City Council to its heels,” Mrs. Lukes said to the members of the HOPE Coalition. “No matter what happens, you have certainly made a difference in this community.”
Back in 2006, the HOPE Coalition documented more than 300 stores in the city that sell tobacco, as well as the related outdoor signs that advertise cigarettes.
Many of the high school students involved in the youth-advocacy project became outraged when they noticed a majority of tobacco-selling stores were in low-income, high-minority neighborhoods that are home to many young teens.
That prompted the HOPE Coalition to then push for a ban on the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies because it felt that as a health care provider, such establishments should not be selling a product that is detrimental to one’s health. It also actively sought tougher restrictions on the advertising of tobacco products.
While there was a general consensus among the council on three of the four amendments, there was a significant division among members on banning chain pharmacies and drug stores from selling tobacco products.
Even though all members agreed that something needs to be done to reduce the smoking rate among Worcester residents, several councilors argued it was unfair to specifically target pharmacies while allowing cigarettes and other tobacco products to still be sold in convenience stores, gas stations and liquor stores.
As a result, they do not feel having such a limited ban will reduce smoking at all. Some even suggested that a total citywide ban on the sale of tobacco in Worcester would be a fairer way to address the issue instead of targeting just one business.
“Our goal is to reduce smoking in Worcester , but having government get in the way of a competitive situation between businesses is not the way to do it,” said District 5 Councilor William J. Eddy. “Government should not be deciding who should be doing better and who should not be doing better.”
But Councilor-at-Large Joseph M. Petty said while the amendment may not be perfect, it is a starting point. He said the fact that the smoking rate among the city’s population is considerably higher than the statewide average is a cause of major concern.
“We have a major health problem in this city,” Mr. Petty said. “But Worcester is not going to change unless we start somewhere. This may seem unfair to some, but that’s how a lot of people felt when we voted not to allow smoking in restaurants. This is the right thing to do, so let’s do it.”
