12-10-18-R - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL – NOVEMBER 13, 2018 6 Gene Nichols, 5910 David Court in Shoreview, stated he was before the Council as a representative of the African American Leadership Forum. He noted he currently serves on the Ramsey County Health Advisory Committee. He explained he supported the Council pursuing an Ordinance amendment that would change the tobacco purchase age to 21 and to restrict the sale of flavored tobacco to adult only shops. He reviewed the percentage of African Americans using menthol cigarettes in the metro area and noted the tobacco industry has been targeting his community by handing out Newports in black communities. He stated many in his community cannot stop smoking even though they want to quit and wish tobacco addiction on nobody. He reported his 69-year-old brother lost his battle to COPD a year ago. He explained the FDA was finally considering the ban of e-cigarettes at gas stations and convenient stores in order to curb youth use. He stated he looked forward to the FDA’s full plan noting this was a welcome and long overdue first step. However, he encouraged States and cities to pursue their own restrictions in order to create a healthy future for the community. Rita Lamatsch, 1535 Royal Hills Drive, reported she was the mother of two children. She stated she supported the City Council raising the tobacco sales age to 21 while also restricting the sale of flavored tobacco to adult only stores. She indicated she was concerned about the number of children who were hooked on e-cigarettes. She noted one in five students in high school currently uses e-cigarettes. She stated this scared her as a parent and also brought about fear as to how this generation will face their nicotine addiction. She reported the tobacco industry was using flavors to lure youth into e-cigarette use. She noted the FDA believed e-cigarette use among youth has become an epidemic. She encouraged the Arden Hills City Council to take action now by passing a Tobacco 21 Ordinance amendment. Claire Lamatsch, 1535 Royal Hills Drive, encouraged the Arden Hills City Council to raise the age of tobacco sales to 21 and to remove flavored tobacco from convenient stores. She believed this would make it harder for kids to try e-cigarette products with their friends. She stated her sister has friends in junior high that have already used e-cigarette products and these were always flavored. She explained her parents have always warned her about the dangers of smoking cigarettes but there are not as many warnings about e-cigarettes. She stated many people believe e-cigarettes are safe, but the truth is they were addictive. She recommended the City Council adopt an Ordinance amendment that would help keep more children from getting hooked on nicotine. Anna Grace, 5893 Royal Oaks Drive, reported she was a 10th grade student at Mounds View High School. She discussed how clever the tobacco industry was disguising its product with flavors that appealed to youth. She commented on how addictive and dangerous these products were. She stated many of her peers believed vaping was safe and cool. She reported it was easy for students to conceal their vaping devices as they could be mistaken as thumb drives or other technology. She indicated young people would find it much easier to contact an 18-year-old to purchase e-cigarettes for them than it would be to contact a 21-year-old. She encouraged the City Council to be strong community leaders by increasing the tobacco age to 21 in hopes of decreasing the appeal among younger users. She stated she was proud to live in a community that prioritized the health of its residents over tobacco industry benefits. Dan Schmidt, 1863 Sixth Street in White Bear Lake, stated he opposed raising the tobacco age. He noted he was a non-tobacco using father of two. He explained he was the manager of the