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<br />\t'oGTONeb <br />_~'I', - <'Is <br />"'/'''', ."'... <br />.;.. '% <br />'" d <br />~ " <br />~" 6 <br />. :;! <br /> <br />RAMSEY <br /> <br />MEDICAL <br /> <br />SOCIETY <br /> <br />p.o. Box B1690 <br />St. Paul, MN 55113 <br />Phone 612-362-3704 <br />Fax 612 - 623 - 2838 <br />www.metrodo.tors.com <br /> <br />- <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />/ <br /> <br />Arden Hills Park, Trails, and Recreation Committee <br />City of Arden Hills <br />1245 West Hwy 96 <br />Arden Hills, MN 55112 <br /> <br />April 15, 2005 <br /> <br />Arden Hills Park, Trails, and Recreation Committee: <br /> <br />This letter is in support of the proposed policy in Arden Hills for tobacco-free <br />parks. The Ramsey Medical Society strongly favors eliminating secondhand <br />smoke in public areas, particularly those where children and youth are exposed to <br />it. Our young people benefit from the example of adults not smoking. <br />Unfortunately, in Minnesota:, about one-fourth of high school seniors are regular <br />smokers even though it is illegal for them to purchase or consume tobacco <br />products. <br /> <br />The Ramsey Medical Society is the professional organization of physicians in <br />Washington, Ramsey, and Eastern Dakota Counties. As the local affiliate of the <br />Minnesota Medical Association, our members support clear and strong policies to <br />eliminate secondhand smoke in public areas such as those devoted to recreation. <br /> <br />We are therefore strongly in favor of the adoption of the proposed Tobacco-Free <br />Policy for Arden Hill's entire park system. We feel that this is the right thing to <br />do because park and recreational areas are intended to promote the health of the <br />community and environmental carcinogens in secondhand smoke should be <br />eliminated from them. This policy will also help parents, and other role models <br />set expectations and reinforce that tobacco is not compatible with healthy <br />recreation. Such a policy helps counter advertisements targeted to youth that <br />insidiously connect tobacco and sports and recreation. By creating tobacco-free <br />spaces for its people. the community will send the message that tobacco use is <br />incompatible with health. <br /> <br />Besides the health considerations, on a purely economic basis the litter caused by <br />discarded non-biodegradable cigarette filters and packaging materials is an <br />expensive nuisance and environmental detriment that costs Arden Hills taxpayers <br />money. <br /> <br />Given these considerations, the physician members of the Ramsey Medical <br />Society urge the passage of the policy for Tobacco-Free Policy for the entire park <br />system of Arden Hills. <br /> <br />Sincerely, <br /> <br />~ ~ f1D <br /> <br />Charles G. Terzian, M.D. <br />President, Ramsey Medical Society <br /> <br />~~n <br /> <br />Robert C Moravec, M.D. <br />President, RMS Foundation <br />