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Regular City Council Meeting Monday,June 18, 2018 Page 4 Ms. Yewhalawork expressed support for increasing the tobacco age to 21. Afri- can-Americans, youth, LBGT, Native Americans, and those with mental illnesses suffer more from tobacco use and death. She does not want this ordinance to be used as a way to unfairly target young people of/ color. Rather, the point is to stop retailers from illegally selling tobacco to young people. Joan Bulfer,3030 Chatsworth Street, Ms. Bulfer stated it is critical to support a commonsense prevention policy like the one that is before the Council tonight. Making healthy choices the easy choice is critical to prevention. In her work in the public health field, she has seen the effect that ordinances have in reducing tobacco use. Last year, in visiting with a principal in a large area on the topic of health, he was supportive but was even more concerned about e-cigarettes. This is the Council's chance to do something about tobacco and vaping products. She noted the Council has the opportunity to vote to save lives tonight. Dr. David Claven, 1626 Rose Hills Drive, Dr. Claven stated he is present as a representative of HealthPartners. Health Part- ners employs over 200 Roseville residents. Cigarettes cause death in 1/3 of those who smoke from lung and other cancers and hosts of other illnesses. Cigarettes are addictive and expensive. One of his recent patients was hospitalized from lung cancer which had spread to her brain. He also saw two smoking patients on the same day who requested two CT scans to check for lung cancers. One of his favorite professors from medical school committed suicide after being diagnosed with lung cancer. In Minnesota, people have to be 21 to purchase alcohol, and that should apply to tobacco as well. Anna, 10 years old, Roseville, Anna spoke in support of increasing the age to buy tobacco to 21. She displayed a picture of her brother, who started smoking at 13 and has had to miss out on special family times when he has to step out and smoke a cigarette. Katie Engman, 1413 Eldridge Avenue West, Ms. Youngman stated she was recently at City Hall chaperoning a first-grade field trip when a student asked how many lives the Mayor saves. Today, the Mayor has a real opportunity to save lives by preventing young people from becoming addicted to tobacco. She has worked in the field of tobacco prevention since 2000, and studies show that the great declines stopped in 2017. There is now an increase in tobacco use among high school students, which is due to the use of flavored cigars and electronic cigarettes. She is particularly concerned about the JUUL brand, which some students smoke throughout the day. Mayor Roe closed the public hearing at approximately 6:50 p.m., with no one else appearing for or against.