Community members and experts gathered at the Manhattan Beach Council Chambers Monday evening to discuss imposing a more rigorous ordinance against smoking in public places. The ban would be similar to that of Hermosa Beach, which went into effect in 2010.
“We are neighbors inspiring neighbors,” Hermosa Beach councilman Jeff Duclos said. “Hermosa’s smoking population has gone down by 36 percent since the ordinance went into effect.”
Concern over smoking in public places is twofold. First, residents are concerned with the health effects of secondhand smoke. Second, the resulting litter from cigarette butts is a major polluter not only on the streets of Manhattan Beach but in its ocean.
Holly Maynes of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency opened the meeting with a host of statistics about the health effects of secondhand smoke and the benefits of its prohibition.
“Cities with strong smoke-free outdoors policies have 30 percent chance less heart attacks,” Maynes said. “Six cities in L.A. County have smoke-free outdoor areas. And 12 cities in L.A. County have comprehensive smoke-free outdoor areas.”
Maynes conducted extensive public opinion polls that showed overwhelming support for the ordinance by Manhattan Beach residents.
Dr. Mary Eno, Chief of Addiction Medicine at Kaiser Permanente South Bay, spoke further about the risks of secondhand smoke. She relayed how even brief exposure, such as on a sidewalk or in a parking lot, could cause an increase in heart disease or heart attacks.
“I believe that if we add restrictions to where people can smoke, it would change the behavior of current smokers and encourage them to quit smoking,” Eno said.
Craig Cadwallader of the Surfrider Foundation emphasized the environmental impact cigarette litter has on the community, and especially on marine life.
“Cigarette butts are the number one culprit of beach litter,” he said. “They are not biodegradable, therefore they will not simply go away. They go into the gutters and into the oceans. They are toxic, and by simply flicking a cigarette butt, you can cause a lot of damage.”
One concern dissenters have expressed is a fear that a smoking ban would hurt local businesses. Cadwallader cited the example of Calabasas, a smoke-free city that, according to statistics, has seen no negative impact on businesses since their ban.
Duclos upheld this argument, noting that Hermosa has not been negatively affected by the ban, either.
“It has not hurt the business community,” he said. “It has resulted in positive benefits such as protecting the greatest asset, marine life. Also, it has reduced marine debris in our ocean and dramatically cut city clean up costs. “
“We as beach cities need to join together to create clean and better environments that we can all benefit from,” Duclos said.
The next meeting to discuss the Manhattan Beach smoking ban will be on Tuesday, May 7.
