HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/1/2019 Item Public Comment, Tseng
Wilbanks, Megan
From:Joyce Tseng <tseng_joyce@hotmail.com>
Sent:Friday, September
To:E-mail Council Website
Cc:Courtney Rasmussen
Subject:Please Support a City-Wide Ban on Flavored Vape Sales
Dear Mayor Harmon and City Council Members:
Thank you for leading the way on climate justice nationally and truly caring about the legacy we
leave to our kids. To ensure the future health and well-being of all our children in the city of
San Luis Obispo, I encourage you to consider and support a city-wide ban on flavored vape
sales.
As a parent of an 8 and 3-year old with a background in Public Health, I serve on the Sinsheimer
Elementary PTA board and have served on the District Wellness Committee. It has been
disheartening to learn about the growing epidemic of middle-school and high-school aged
students that are addicted to vaping, both at a local and national level.
At Sinsheimer Elementary, parents have been talking with our principal, the staff, and other
families on how we need to start educating ourselves and our kids about the dangers of vaping
and tobacco. It was discussed that by the time our kids get to middle school, kids are much
more susceptible to peer pressure and misinformation. However, education and interventions
can only go so far, and we really need city-wide support and policies in place to really address
and put a stop to this vaping epidemic.
thth
74% of 11 graders and 64% of 9 graders in the San Luis Coastal School report that it is easy
to obtain e-cigarettes, and the number one place kids get their vaping supplies is locally. It will
make a big difference if there is a ban on flavored tobacco in San Luis Obispo. Flavors like
Candy King, Unicorn Puke, and Circus Cotton Candy are a hugely compelling reason for kids to
start using tobacco, without any knowledge that these products risk a lifetime of addiction and
health consequences.
Cities and states all over the country are sending a message to the tobacco industry and banning
flavored vape sales. Please pass a flavored vape ban here in the City of San Luis Obispo.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
-Joyce Tseng
SLO Resident and Parent
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