June 21, 2007

Contact:
- Andrew Weisser, (818) 703-6444, aweisser@earthlink.net
www.californialung.org
or your local American Lung Association at (800) LUNG-USA

80 Percent of Calabasas Voters Support Second Hand Smoke Ordinance One Year After Passage

Reporter/Editor Note: NEWS EMBARGOED UNTIL 12:01 a.m. (Pacific), Thursday, June 21.

WHO:

• Jack Nicholl, Center for Tobacco Policy and Organizing, American Lung Association of California.
• Paul Goodwin, Goodwin Simon Victoria research polling firm.

WHAT: Release of polling data during presentation to the Calabasas City Council regarding attitudes of Calabasas residents about (1) comprehensive secondhand smoke ordinance one year after passage and (2) extending smoking ban to cover apartment units and buildings. Council discussion of next steps in Calabasas to protect residents from exposure to second hand smoke

WHEN: 8 p.m. (Pacific), Wednesday, June 20, 2007

WHERE: City of Calabasas, City Council Chambers, second floor, 26135 Mureau Road, Calabasas. Directions from 101 freeway toward Ventura County: exit Las Virgenes Road, go north off the freeway to the first traffic light and turn right. City Hall will be on your left. There is ample parking.

CALABASAS, CA (Embargoed Until 12:01 a.m. (Pacific), Thursday, June 21, 2007) – One year after Calabasas City Council unanimously passed the most comprehensive secondhand smoke control ordinance in the nation, voters strongly support the ordinance according to a scientific survey commissioned by the American Lung Association of

California ’s Center for Tobacco Policy and Organizing. “Eighty percent approve of the law,” said Kimberly Weich Reusche , director of the Center. “This kind of consensus support for a public policy is extremely unusual.” The survey asked voters their opinions about the law, how the law is being enforced and whether the City should strengthen the ordinance to protect tenants inside their apartments from drifting secondhand smoke.

“People in Calabasas know that secondhand smoke is dangerous,” said Councilman Barry Groveman, the sponsor of the secondhand smoke ordinance. “Over 90 percent in this poll said secondhand smoke is harmful. Nobody wants to breathe this stuff and they certainly don’t want their kids exposed to it.”

Support for most specific provisions of the law was between 73 to 79 percent including declaring secondhand smoke a nuisance (79%), banning smoking in outdoor areas of restaurants and bars (74%), banning smoking outdoors in the city-except on private property (75%), banning smoking in outdoor common areas in apartments (79%). Only the ban on smoking in parking lots garnered less support (61%). In addition, 72 percent of Calabasas voters said they are not worried that the new law will discourage people from visiting their city.

Ratings for how well the City is enforcing the law are more mixed: 46 percent approve of what the city is doing, 12 percent disapprove, and the balance (42 percent) are unsure. Only 13 percent say they have heard of someone actually being warned for smoking in public and 32 percent say they have personally experienced secondhand smoke in a public place in Calabasas since the ordinance went into effect.

There is widespread support for additional smoking restrictions in apartment buildings in Calabasas. By a 67 to 25 percent margin, voters in Calabasas favor a law to require smoke-free sections in each apartment building in Calabasas. Solid support for the proposal is seen among all voter groups, including 58 percent of smokers and 63 percent of those who live in multi-family housing including condos and apartments. Similar support exists (68%-26%) for a law to require apartment complexes in Calabasas with multiple apartment buildings to make some of those buildings “entirely smoke-free.”

“The City of Calabasas is a national leader in protecting its residents from secondhand smoke,” said Matt Keener, Regional Vice President for the American Lung Association of California. “The American Lung Association of California supports the City of Calabasas as it extends these protections to include smoke-free apartment units, balconies and patios.”

The survey was conducted by Paul Goodwin of Goodwin Simon Victoria Research between March 29 and April 1, 2007 . The sample included 300 completed interviews with registered voters in Calabasas who have participated in at least one election. The margin of error for this study is about plus or minus 5.5% at a 95% confidence level.

The Center for Tobacco Policy & Organizing (The Center) is a statewide project of the American Lung Association of California funded by the California Department of Health Services, Tobacco Control Section. It assists local communities meet their policy objectives using community organizing strategies. The Center also provides policy information and analysis regarding significant tobacco related bills, tobacco industry campaign contributions, emerging issues like tobacco retailer licensing and smoke-free multi-unit housing, and breaking news stories as they relate to current or future tobacco control policy.

For 100 years, the American Lung Association has been the lead organization working to prevent lung disease and promote lung health. Lung disease death rates continue to increase while other leading causes of death have declined. The American Lung Association funds vital research on the causes of and treatments for lung disease. With the generous support of the public, the American Lung Association is “Improving life, one breath at a time.” For more information about the American Lung Association or to support the work it does, call 1.800.LUNG.USA (1.800.586.4872) or visit www.californialung.org or www.lungusa.org.call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) or visit www.californialung.org.