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CASAA: (UPDATED!) NYC CTA Indoor Use Ban Hearing 12-4-13
[h=2]THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2013[/h][h=3](UPDATED!) NYC CTA Indoor Use Ban Hearing 12-4-13[/h]Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook
[h=3]Call to Action! New York City E-Cigarette Usage Ban --
Local Law 7248 (vote may happen soon!)[/h]
UPDATE 12/12/13: regarding upcoming Health Committee vote and contact lists.
[legislative tracking + full text]
If enacted, these ordinances would:
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Council Speaker Christine Quinn, and Councilman James F. Gennaro are both just a few weeks away from the end of their terms as NYC officials. Bloomberg and company, having failed in their push to enact a de facto ban on flavored e-cigarette sales in the city, have decided to again bully ex-smokers in NYC by attempting to push through an ordinance that would ban the use of electronic cigarettes in all indoor and outdoor areas of the city where smoking is banned.
On Wednesday, December 4th, the New York City Council held a hearing on these ordinances, with approximately 50 harm reduction advocates attending and many speaking in opposition to the plan. Following the hearing, two positive articles on e-cigarettes were published in the New York Times (“Two Cheers for E-Cigarettes,” “The Case for Tolerating E-Cigarettes”). Additionally, on Monday, December 9th, a committee in the Chicago City Council declined to railroad through a ban similar to one proposed by the Bloomberg administration ("Surprise Opposition Derails Emauel's E-Cigarette Ban").
The NYC ordinance was originally set to be voted on by the Health Committee on Wednesday, December 11th. However, we’ve learned that the vote has been delayed, perhaps until Wednesday, December 18th. The goal is to then have the full Council immediately vote on it on Thursday, December 19th at their meeting at 1:30 PM at City Hall (260 Broadway).
Important Note for New York City Residents: Vapers and advocates cannot wait until the Health Committee acts on this ordinance to decide whether to contact other members of the NYC Council. It is imperative that NYC residents who respond to this Call to Action not just contact the full Council, but also the Council member who represents each individual person's district. Click here to find out who represents you on the New York City Council. We highly recommend calling their legislative office and respectfully making clear that you are in the legislator’s district and have a strong opinion about the e-cigarette ordinance. You can even ask for a meeting or return phone call.
NYC and Nearby Residents: Please Contact All the Members of the New York City Council
1. You would like them to OPPOSE the proposed ordinance to falsely redefine "smoking" to include use of a smoke-free electronic cigarette.
2. Tell your story on how switching to an e-cigarette has changed your life.
3. Explain how smoking bans are enacted to protect the public from the harm of secondhand smoke, but e-cigarettes have not been shown to cause harm to bystanders. In fact, all evidence to date shows that the low health risks associated with e-cigarettes is comparable to other smokeless nicotine products.
The low risks of e-cigarettes is supported by research done by Dr. Siegel of Boston University, Dr. Eissenberg of Virginia Commonwealth, Dr Maciej L Goniewicz of the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Dr. Laugesen of Health New Zealand, Dr. Igor Burstyn of Drexel University, and by the fact that the FDA testing, in spite of its press statement, failed to find harmful levels of carcinogens or toxic levels of any chemical in the vapor.
A comprehensive review by a Drexel University professor based on over 9,000 observations of e-cigarette liquid and vapor found "no apparent concern" for bystanders exposed to e-cigarette vapor, even under "worst case" assumptions about exposure.
Additionally, a study by the Roswell Park Center that was funded in part by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that the levels of chemicals and toxicants in the vapor produced by 12 different e-cigarettes 9-450x less than in cigarette smoke. The authors noted that the trace levels of chemicals present were comparable to what is found in a FDA-approved nicotine inhaler.
4. Detail how electronic cigarette use is easy to distinguish from actual smoking. Although some e-cigarettes resemble real cigarettes, many do not. It is easy to tell when someone lights a cigarette from the smell of smoke. E-cigarette vapor is practically odorless, and generally any detectable odor is not unpleasant and smells nothing like smoke. Additionally, e-cigarette users can decide whether to release any vapor ("discreet vaping"). With so little evidence of use, enforcing indoor use bans on electronic cigarettes would be nearly impossible.
5. Inform them that the ability to use electronic cigarettes in public spaces will actually improve public health by inspiring other smokers to switch. Surveys of thousands of users indicate that the majority of those who switch, completely replace tobacco cigarettes with the electronic cigarettes, reducing their health risks by 98-99%.
6. Tell them that by switching to a smokeless product, you have greatly reduced your health risks.
7. Direct them to the CASAA.org website, as well as the CASAA Research Library, for more information.
Please Contact the Members of the New York City Health Committee Below:
While e-mails are easier, phone calls will have a larger impact, even if you are simply leaving a message after hours.
Comma delimited email list:
chin@council.nyc.gov, rmendez@council.nyc.gov, garodnick@council.nyc.ny.us, lappin@council.nyc.gov,gbrewer@council.nyc.gov, rjackson@council.nyc.gov, mviverito@council.nyc.gov, yrodriguez@council.nyc.gov,aking@council.nyc.gov, jvacca@council.nyc.gov, joel.rivera@council.nyc.gov, vgibson@council.nyc.gov,apalma@council.nyc.gov, dhalloran@council.nyc.gov, pkoo@council.nyc.gov, jferreras@council.nyc.gov,mweprin@council.nyc.gov, jgennaro@council.nyc.gov, jvanbramer@council.nyc.gov, comrie@council.nyc.ny.us,ruben.wills@council.nyc.gov, koslowitz@council.nyc.gov, ecrowley@council.nyc.gov, eulrich@council.nyc.gov,slevin@council.nyc.gov, ljames@council.nyc.gov, avann@council.nyc.gov, edilan@council.nyc.gov,sgonzalez@council.nyc.gov, lander@council.nyc.gov, mathieu.eugene@council.nyc.gov darlene.mealy@council.nyc.gov,vgentile@council.nyc.gov, dgreenfield@council.nyc.gov, lfidler@council.nyc.gov, drecchia@council.nyc.gov,mnelson1@council.nyc.gov, drose@council.nyc.gov, joddo@council.nyc.gov, vignizio@council.nyc.gov
BROOKLYN COUNCIL MEMBERS
Margaret Chin (D) [District 1]
212-788-7259
chin@council.nyc.gov
Rosie Mendez (D) [District 2]
212-788-7366
rmendez@council.nyc.gov
Christine C. Quinn (D) [District 3]
212 788-7210
Daniel R. Garodnick (D) [District 4]
212-788-7393
garodnick@council.nyc.ny.us
Jessica S. Lappin (D) [District 5]
212-788-6865
lappin@council.nyc.gov
Gale A. Brewer (D) [District 6]
212 788-6975
gbrewer@council.nyc.gov
Robert Jackson (D) [District 7]
212-788-7007
rjackson@council.nyc.gov
Melissa Mark-Viverito (D) [District 8]
212-788-6960
mviverito@council.nyc.gov
Inez Dickens (D) [District 9]
212-788-7397
Ydanis Rodriguez (D) [District 10]
212-788-7053
yrodriguez@council.nyc.gov
Oliver Koppell (D) [District 11]
212-788-7080
Andy King (D) [District 12]
718 684-5509
aking@council.nyc.gov
James Vacca (D) [District 13]
212-788-7375
jvacca@council.nyc.gov
Fernando Cabrera (D) [District 14]
212-788-7074
Joel Rivera (D) [District 15]
212-788-6966
Joel.Rivera@council.nyc.gov
Vanessa L. Gibson [District 16]
212-788-6856
VGibson@council.nyc.gov
Maria del Carmen Arroyo (D) [District 17]
212-788-7384
BRONX COUNCIL MEMBERS
Annabel Palma (D) [District 18]
212-788-6853
apalma@council.nyc.gov
Daniel Halloran (R), (C), (I), (L) [District 19]
212-788-7250
dhalloran@council.nyc.gov
Peter Koo (D) [District 20]
212-788-7022
pkoo@council.nyc.gov
Julissa Ferreras (D) [District 21]
212-788-6862
jferreras@council.nyc.gov
Peter F. Vallone Jr. (D) [District 22]
212-788-6963
Mark S. Weprin (D) [District 23]
212-788-6984
MWeprin@Council.NYC.gov
James F. Gennaro (D) [District 24]
212-788-6956
jgennaro@council.nyc.gov
Daniel Dromm (D) [District 25]
212-788-7066
MANHATTAN COUNCIL MEMBERS
Jimmy Van Bramer (D) [District 26]
212-788-7370
jvanbramer@council.nyc.gov
Leroy Comrie (D) [District 27]
212-788-7084
comrie@council.nyc.ny.us
Ruben Wills (D) [District 28]
212-788-6850
Ruben.Wills@council.nyc.gov
Karen Koslowitz (D) [District 29]
212-788-6981
Koslowitz@council.nyc.gov
Elizabeth Crowley (D) [District 30]
212 788-7381
ecrowley@council.nyc.gov
Donovan Richards Jr [District 31]
212-788-7216
Eric Ulrich (R) [District 32]
212-788-7069
eulrich@council.nyc.gov
Stephen Levin (D) [District 33]
212-788-7348
slevin@council.nyc.gov
Diana Reyna (D) [District 34]
212-788-7095
Letitia James [District 35]
212-788-7081
ljames@council.nyc.gov
QUEENS COUNCIL MEMBERS
Albert Vann (D) [District 36]
212-788-7354
avann@council.nyc.gov
Erik Martin Dilan (D) [District 37]
212-788-7284
Edilan@council.nyc.gov
Sara M. González (D) [District 38]
212-788-7372
sgonzalez@council.nyc.gov
Brad Landers (D) [District 39]
212-788-6969
lander@council.nyc.gov
Mathieu Eugene (D) [District 40]
212-788-7352
mathieu.eugene@council.nyc.gov
Darlene Mealy (D) [District 41]
212-788-7387
darlene.mealy@council.nyc.gov
Charles Barron (D) [District 42]
212-788-6957
Vincent J. Gentile (D) [District 43]
212-788-7363
vgentile@council.nyc.gov
David G. Greenfield (D) [District 44]
718-853-2704
dgreenfield@council.nyc.gov
Jumaane D. Williams (D) [District 45]
212-788-6859
Lew Fidler (D) [District 46]
212-788-7286
LFidler@council.nyc.gov
Domenic M. Recchia, Jr. (D) [District 47]
212-788-7045
drecchia@council.nyc.gov
Michael Nelson (D) [District 48]
212-788-7360
MNelson1@council.nyc.gov
STATEN ISLAND COUNCIL MEMBERS
Deborah Rose (D) [District 49]
212-788-6972
DROSE@Council.nyc.gov
James S. Oddo (R) [District 50]
212-788-7159
joddo@council.nyc.gov
Vincent Ignizio (R) [District 51]
212-788-7390
vignizio@council.nyc.gov
[h=2]THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2013[/h][h=3](UPDATED!) NYC CTA Indoor Use Ban Hearing 12-4-13[/h]Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook
[h=3]Call to Action! New York City E-Cigarette Usage Ban --
Local Law 7248 (vote may happen soon!)[/h]
UPDATE 12/12/13: regarding upcoming Health Committee vote and contact lists.
[legislative tracking + full text]
If enacted, these ordinances would:
- Include e-cigarettes in New York City's "Smoke-Free Air Act”
- Ban e-cigarette use in all locations where smoking is prohibited in New York City, including bars, restaurants, private workplaces, outdoor dining areas and parks.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Council Speaker Christine Quinn, and Councilman James F. Gennaro are both just a few weeks away from the end of their terms as NYC officials. Bloomberg and company, having failed in their push to enact a de facto ban on flavored e-cigarette sales in the city, have decided to again bully ex-smokers in NYC by attempting to push through an ordinance that would ban the use of electronic cigarettes in all indoor and outdoor areas of the city where smoking is banned.
On Wednesday, December 4th, the New York City Council held a hearing on these ordinances, with approximately 50 harm reduction advocates attending and many speaking in opposition to the plan. Following the hearing, two positive articles on e-cigarettes were published in the New York Times (“Two Cheers for E-Cigarettes,” “The Case for Tolerating E-Cigarettes”). Additionally, on Monday, December 9th, a committee in the Chicago City Council declined to railroad through a ban similar to one proposed by the Bloomberg administration ("Surprise Opposition Derails Emauel's E-Cigarette Ban").
The NYC ordinance was originally set to be voted on by the Health Committee on Wednesday, December 11th. However, we’ve learned that the vote has been delayed, perhaps until Wednesday, December 18th. The goal is to then have the full Council immediately vote on it on Thursday, December 19th at their meeting at 1:30 PM at City Hall (260 Broadway).
Important Note for New York City Residents: Vapers and advocates cannot wait until the Health Committee acts on this ordinance to decide whether to contact other members of the NYC Council. It is imperative that NYC residents who respond to this Call to Action not just contact the full Council, but also the Council member who represents each individual person's district. Click here to find out who represents you on the New York City Council. We highly recommend calling their legislative office and respectfully making clear that you are in the legislator’s district and have a strong opinion about the e-cigarette ordinance. You can even ask for a meeting or return phone call.
NYC and Nearby Residents: Please Contact All the Members of the New York City Council
1. You would like them to OPPOSE the proposed ordinance to falsely redefine "smoking" to include use of a smoke-free electronic cigarette.
2. Tell your story on how switching to an e-cigarette has changed your life.
3. Explain how smoking bans are enacted to protect the public from the harm of secondhand smoke, but e-cigarettes have not been shown to cause harm to bystanders. In fact, all evidence to date shows that the low health risks associated with e-cigarettes is comparable to other smokeless nicotine products.
The low risks of e-cigarettes is supported by research done by Dr. Siegel of Boston University, Dr. Eissenberg of Virginia Commonwealth, Dr Maciej L Goniewicz of the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Dr. Laugesen of Health New Zealand, Dr. Igor Burstyn of Drexel University, and by the fact that the FDA testing, in spite of its press statement, failed to find harmful levels of carcinogens or toxic levels of any chemical in the vapor.
A comprehensive review by a Drexel University professor based on over 9,000 observations of e-cigarette liquid and vapor found "no apparent concern" for bystanders exposed to e-cigarette vapor, even under "worst case" assumptions about exposure.
Additionally, a study by the Roswell Park Center that was funded in part by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that the levels of chemicals and toxicants in the vapor produced by 12 different e-cigarettes 9-450x less than in cigarette smoke. The authors noted that the trace levels of chemicals present were comparable to what is found in a FDA-approved nicotine inhaler.
4. Detail how electronic cigarette use is easy to distinguish from actual smoking. Although some e-cigarettes resemble real cigarettes, many do not. It is easy to tell when someone lights a cigarette from the smell of smoke. E-cigarette vapor is practically odorless, and generally any detectable odor is not unpleasant and smells nothing like smoke. Additionally, e-cigarette users can decide whether to release any vapor ("discreet vaping"). With so little evidence of use, enforcing indoor use bans on electronic cigarettes would be nearly impossible.
5. Inform them that the ability to use electronic cigarettes in public spaces will actually improve public health by inspiring other smokers to switch. Surveys of thousands of users indicate that the majority of those who switch, completely replace tobacco cigarettes with the electronic cigarettes, reducing their health risks by 98-99%.
6. Tell them that by switching to a smokeless product, you have greatly reduced your health risks.
7. Direct them to the CASAA.org website, as well as the CASAA Research Library, for more information.
Please Contact the Members of the New York City Health Committee Below:
While e-mails are easier, phone calls will have a larger impact, even if you are simply leaving a message after hours.
Comma delimited email list:
chin@council.nyc.gov, rmendez@council.nyc.gov, garodnick@council.nyc.ny.us, lappin@council.nyc.gov,gbrewer@council.nyc.gov, rjackson@council.nyc.gov, mviverito@council.nyc.gov, yrodriguez@council.nyc.gov,aking@council.nyc.gov, jvacca@council.nyc.gov, joel.rivera@council.nyc.gov, vgibson@council.nyc.gov,apalma@council.nyc.gov, dhalloran@council.nyc.gov, pkoo@council.nyc.gov, jferreras@council.nyc.gov,mweprin@council.nyc.gov, jgennaro@council.nyc.gov, jvanbramer@council.nyc.gov, comrie@council.nyc.ny.us,ruben.wills@council.nyc.gov, koslowitz@council.nyc.gov, ecrowley@council.nyc.gov, eulrich@council.nyc.gov,slevin@council.nyc.gov, ljames@council.nyc.gov, avann@council.nyc.gov, edilan@council.nyc.gov,sgonzalez@council.nyc.gov, lander@council.nyc.gov, mathieu.eugene@council.nyc.gov darlene.mealy@council.nyc.gov,vgentile@council.nyc.gov, dgreenfield@council.nyc.gov, lfidler@council.nyc.gov, drecchia@council.nyc.gov,mnelson1@council.nyc.gov, drose@council.nyc.gov, joddo@council.nyc.gov, vignizio@council.nyc.gov
BROOKLYN COUNCIL MEMBERS
Margaret Chin (D) [District 1]
212-788-7259
chin@council.nyc.gov
Rosie Mendez (D) [District 2]
212-788-7366
rmendez@council.nyc.gov
Christine C. Quinn (D) [District 3]
212 788-7210
Daniel R. Garodnick (D) [District 4]
212-788-7393
garodnick@council.nyc.ny.us
Jessica S. Lappin (D) [District 5]
212-788-6865
lappin@council.nyc.gov
Gale A. Brewer (D) [District 6]
212 788-6975
gbrewer@council.nyc.gov
Robert Jackson (D) [District 7]
212-788-7007
rjackson@council.nyc.gov
Melissa Mark-Viverito (D) [District 8]
212-788-6960
mviverito@council.nyc.gov
Inez Dickens (D) [District 9]
212-788-7397
Ydanis Rodriguez (D) [District 10]
212-788-7053
yrodriguez@council.nyc.gov
Oliver Koppell (D) [District 11]
212-788-7080
Andy King (D) [District 12]
718 684-5509
aking@council.nyc.gov
James Vacca (D) [District 13]
212-788-7375
jvacca@council.nyc.gov
Fernando Cabrera (D) [District 14]
212-788-7074
Joel Rivera (D) [District 15]
212-788-6966
Joel.Rivera@council.nyc.gov
Vanessa L. Gibson [District 16]
212-788-6856
VGibson@council.nyc.gov
Maria del Carmen Arroyo (D) [District 17]
212-788-7384
BRONX COUNCIL MEMBERS
Annabel Palma (D) [District 18]
212-788-6853
apalma@council.nyc.gov
Daniel Halloran (R), (C), (I), (L) [District 19]
212-788-7250
dhalloran@council.nyc.gov
Peter Koo (D) [District 20]
212-788-7022
pkoo@council.nyc.gov
Julissa Ferreras (D) [District 21]
212-788-6862
jferreras@council.nyc.gov
Peter F. Vallone Jr. (D) [District 22]
212-788-6963
Mark S. Weprin (D) [District 23]
212-788-6984
MWeprin@Council.NYC.gov
James F. Gennaro (D) [District 24]
212-788-6956
jgennaro@council.nyc.gov
Daniel Dromm (D) [District 25]
212-788-7066
MANHATTAN COUNCIL MEMBERS
Jimmy Van Bramer (D) [District 26]
212-788-7370
jvanbramer@council.nyc.gov
Leroy Comrie (D) [District 27]
212-788-7084
comrie@council.nyc.ny.us
Ruben Wills (D) [District 28]
212-788-6850
Ruben.Wills@council.nyc.gov
Karen Koslowitz (D) [District 29]
212-788-6981
Koslowitz@council.nyc.gov
Elizabeth Crowley (D) [District 30]
212 788-7381
ecrowley@council.nyc.gov
Donovan Richards Jr [District 31]
212-788-7216
Eric Ulrich (R) [District 32]
212-788-7069
eulrich@council.nyc.gov
Stephen Levin (D) [District 33]
212-788-7348
slevin@council.nyc.gov
Diana Reyna (D) [District 34]
212-788-7095
Letitia James [District 35]
212-788-7081
ljames@council.nyc.gov
QUEENS COUNCIL MEMBERS
Albert Vann (D) [District 36]
212-788-7354
avann@council.nyc.gov
Erik Martin Dilan (D) [District 37]
212-788-7284
Edilan@council.nyc.gov
Sara M. González (D) [District 38]
212-788-7372
sgonzalez@council.nyc.gov
Brad Landers (D) [District 39]
212-788-6969
lander@council.nyc.gov
Mathieu Eugene (D) [District 40]
212-788-7352
mathieu.eugene@council.nyc.gov
Darlene Mealy (D) [District 41]
212-788-7387
darlene.mealy@council.nyc.gov
Charles Barron (D) [District 42]
212-788-6957
Vincent J. Gentile (D) [District 43]
212-788-7363
vgentile@council.nyc.gov
David G. Greenfield (D) [District 44]
718-853-2704
dgreenfield@council.nyc.gov
Jumaane D. Williams (D) [District 45]
212-788-6859
Lew Fidler (D) [District 46]
212-788-7286
LFidler@council.nyc.gov
Domenic M. Recchia, Jr. (D) [District 47]
212-788-7045
drecchia@council.nyc.gov
Michael Nelson (D) [District 48]
212-788-7360
MNelson1@council.nyc.gov
STATEN ISLAND COUNCIL MEMBERS
Deborah Rose (D) [District 49]
212-788-6972
DROSE@Council.nyc.gov
James S. Oddo (R) [District 50]
212-788-7159
joddo@council.nyc.gov
Vincent Ignizio (R) [District 51]
212-788-7390
vignizio@council.nyc.gov
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