CASAA California Action Alert

[ClippinWings]

Got this email from CASAA, but it doesn't appear to be in their "Calls to Action"...

Looks like one of the meetings has already passed (last night)

CASAA California Action Alert: Berkeley (San Fran area) & Lakewood (L.A. area) Considering vaping Bans Both cities have requested draft ordinances be written to ban e-cigarette use where smoking is banned. Vapers should begin contacting members of both City Councils. Next Berkeley City Council meeting Tuesday, October 15 at 7 PM Next Lakewood City Council meeting Tuesday, October 22 at 7:30 PM​ ​

Dear CASAA Member, CASAA has learned that both the Berkeley, California City Council (agenda noting prior discussion) and the Lakewood City Council (news article) will soon be considering ordinances that would senselessly ban e-cigarette use everywhere in their respective cities where smoking is banned. CASAA is asking members like you to get active n opposing these bans. Please see below for how to send e-mails or make phone calls to the members of the Berkeley City Council and Lakewood City Council. Berkeley is home to Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights (ANR), one of the most virulently anti e-cigarette groups in the U.S.A. The head of ANR has claimed that there is no evidence e-cigarettes help people smoking and has made repeated false claims about e-cigarette toxicity. ANR even tried to convince city council members in Alameda, California that they should include e-cigarettes in a smoking ban that would have included private residences like apartments! (see pages 13-14 of the linked PDF). We need strong opposition to this ban attempt as a result. Lakewood is also very important. The Berkeley City Council holds regular meetings on the first and third Tuesday of each month. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 15th at 7 PM at the Council Chambers (2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Berkeley). While the e-cigarette usage ban will not be discussed, Tuesday night is great potential opportunity for e-cigarette users to speak before the Council. In order to speak at the beginning of the meeting, you must submit a name card prior to the meeting starting. (See the Agenda's 'Public Comment on Non-Agenda Matters' section) The Lakewood City Council holds regular meetings on the second and fourth Tuesday of each moth. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 22 at 7:30 PM at Council Chambers (5000 Clark Avenue). It is not yet known whether the e-cigarette usage ban will be discussed. Regardless, we are asking for vapers to attend and speak in opposition to the ban and provide some education on the facts about e-cigarettes. If you are from the Lakewood or Berkeley area, we also highly recommend sending a letter to the editor of one or more of your local newspapers opposing the bill. To learn how to write a letter to the editor, check out this guide and reply to this e-mail if you are truly unsure of how to proceed. PLEASE SEE BELOW ON HOW TO CONTACT MEMBERS OF BOTH THE BERKELEY CITY COUNCIL & THE LAKEWOOD CITY COUNCIL (1) Contacting the Members of the Berkeley City Council Comma delimited email list: mayor@cityofberkeley.info, lmaio@cityofberkeley.info, dmoore@cityofberkeley.info, manderson@cityofberkeley.info, jarreguin@cityofberkeley.info, lcapitelli@cityofberkeley.info, swengraf@cityofberkeley.info, kworthington@cityofberkeley.info, gwozniak@cityofberkeley.info District Incumbent Term Expires Phone & Fax​ E-mail Mayor​ Tom Bates​ 11/30/2016 (510) 981-7100 P (510) 981-7199 F mayor@CityofBerkeley.info District 1 Linda Maio 11/30/2014 (510) 981-7110 P (510) 981-7111 F lmaio@CityofBerkeley.info District 2 Darryl Moore 11/30/2016 (510) 981-7120 P (510) 981-7122 F dmoore@CityofBerkeley.info District 3 Max Anderson 11/30/2016 (510) 981-7130 P (510) 981-7133 F manderson@CityofBerkeley.info District 4 Jesse Arreguin 11/30/2014 (510) 981-7140 P (510) 981-7144 F jarreguin@CityofBerkeley.info District 5 Laurie Capitelli 11/30/2016 (510) 981-7150 P (510) 981-7155 F lcapitelli@CityofBerkeley.info District 6 Susan Wengraf 11/30/2016 (510) 981-7160 P (510) 981-7166 F swengraf@CityofBerkeley.info District 7 Kriss Worthington 11/30/2014 (510) 981-7170 P (510) 981-7177 F kworthington@CityofBerkeley.info District 8 Gordon Wozniak 11/30/2014 (510) 981-7180 P (510) 981-7188 F gwozniak@CityofBerkeley.info (2) Contact all the members of the Lakewood City Council by e-mailing citycouncil@lakewoodcity.org Your e-mail will be delivered to the Council members. Steve Croft Todd Rogers Diane DuBois Ron Piazza Jeff Wood (3) What to Say in Your E-Mails / Phone Calls to the Members of the Berkeley City Council & the Lakewood City Council What to say: 1. You are a California citizen and the City Council should NOT ban e-cigarette use where smoking is banned. Feel free to note what city you are from as well. (Remember to be respectful). 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. Michael Siegel of Boston University, Dr. Tom Eissenberg of Virginia Commonwealth, Dr Maciej L Goniewicz of the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Dr. Murray 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. For example, 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. Additionally, 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. 4. Let them know that SB 648, the bill to ban e-cigarette usage throughout the State of California, did not pass in 2013 for a reason -- it didn't have the votes. The San Francisco Chronicle and others editorialized against Senator Ellen Corbett's ban attempt and urged policymakers to wait for science showing e-cigarettes are harmful before acting. In August, the Laguna Beach City Council rejected an ordinance to prohibit e-cigarette usage where smoking is banned. That same month, Senator Corbett pulled SB 648 from an agenda of the Committee on Governmental Organization because the vast majority of the committee members were prepared to reject it. 5. 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 ("discrete vaping"). With so little evidence of use, enforcing indoor use bans on electronic cigarettes would be nearly impossible. 6. 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%. 7. Tell them that by switching to a smokeless product, you have greatly reduced your health risks. 8. Direct them to the CASAA.org website, as well as the CASAA Research Library, for more information.

Thank you for your attention. Sincerely, Gregory Conley (609) 947 - 8059 CASAA Legislative Director

 

[Berylanna]

Got this email from CASAA, but it doesn't appear to be in their "Calls to Action"...

Looks like one of the meetings has already passed (last night)

I think the smaller actions only go out to residents of that state (or people who signed up on CASAA to also have that state, such as retirees on the road, students, etc.)

I think the reason is to avoid major Calls to Action over every city. Those were originally designed for the State and Federal level. Otherwise is could get noisy. ESPECIALLY since cities just don't care about out-of-staters, in fact they find it offensive and irritating to hear from them. I've gotten away with going to city council meetings for nearby cities, in person, by saying I'm a neighbor who shops there (which is true.)

For state-level things, I've only responded to states where I travel or shop, for the same reason, unless the CTA specifically asks for broader participation.

 

[ClippinWings]

I think the smaller actions only go out to residents of that state (or people who signed up on CASAA to also have that state, such as retirees on the road, students, etc.)

I think the reason is to avoid major Calls to Action over every city. Those were originally designed for the State and Federal level. Otherwise is could get noisy. ESPECIALLY since cities just don't care about out-of-staters, in fact they find it offensive and irritating to hear from them. I've gotten away with going to city council meetings for nearby cities, in person, by saying I'm a neighbor who shops there (which is true.)

For state-level things, I've only responded to states where I travel or shop, for the same reason, unless the CTA specifically asks for broader participation.

Thanks... I would have thoguht exactly that, had I not found out about the Seal Beach, CA issues via a CASAA Call To Action

With Seal Beach having a population of 24,000, vs Lakewood at 80,000 and Berkley at 112,000... it has me confused

 

[Berylanna]

Thanks... I would have thoguht exactly that, had I not found out about the Seal Beach, CA issues via a CASAA Call To Action

With Seal Beach having a population of 24,000, vs Lakewood at 80,000 and Berkley at 112,000... it has me confused

I could be wrong, but I think they only recently got the state-by-state email alerts working.

 

[Bill Godshall]

I think Berylanna is correct.

In the past week, I've received a half dozen e-mail alerts from CASAA regarding local ordinances in various states (but that's because I signed up to receive e-mails for all 50 states).

State specific alerts that are just sent to vapers and vendors in that state are by far the best legislative advocacy strategy.

When I was campaigning to enact local and state laws to ban workplace smoking, and to increase state cigarette tax rates, I developed 50 different e-mail lists (one for each state) and only sent the alerts to folks in the affected state.

Berylanna is right that state and local officials try to ignore e-mails and letters sent by folks who don't live in their state or city (unless its from a national organization).

 

[Placebo Effect]

Those who receive the e-mails, please feel free to post them here.

In fact, it'd be excellent if a few dedicated vapers could sign up to receive CASAA e-mails from all 50 states and then post the legislative call to actions (not e-mails we send out about local news articles, letters to the editor, etc.), that would be greatly appreciated. Obviously, it's probably best to try to keep each piece of legislation in its own separate thread.

Our website will eventually be able to separate out state / major city CTAs and local ones.

That being said, if you are from California, Florida, or Illinois and haven't received an action alert e-mail from CASAA in the past week, you are either not a member or we don't have your state info. Become a CASAA Member

 

[Uma]

Some of the people to write to are also on Facebook. I jotted them down ( the ones I found at the time) in a new thread here a CASAA forum a few days ago. Here's the thread http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/casaa/479788-few-berkley.html

Hammer down big buddy.

 

[Uma]

All are written to. Not very eloquently mind you, but at least I deleted, upon hubby's insistence, the first draft asking them what the eff they are doing in office if the difference between fog vapor and smoke has to be spelled out to them....

 

[90quattrocoupe]

All are written to. Not very eloquently mind you, but at least I deleted, upon hubby's insistence, the first draft asking them what the eff they are doing in office if the difference between fog vapor and smoke has to be spelled out to them....

Wise man, your hubby.

Greg W.

 

[90quattrocoupe]

It is on the agenda for Oct. 22nd

"2.1 Introduction of Ordinance No. 2013-8; Pertaining to Electronic Cigarettes and Similar Devices"

It was first discussed at the Oct 8th meeting.

Greg W.

 

[Berylanna]

IMO we need to STOP saying fog vapor and start saying food-ingredients vapor.

1. It is true and the ANTZ quite-correctly bust us for lying on that one.

2. There ARE places where food vapor is not allowed, for very good reasons. Allergens can be a serious business. Restaurants, however, is NOT one of those places!

 

[Uma]

Wise man, your hubby.

Greg W.

That's exactly what he expressed.

IMO we need to STOP saying fog vapor and start saying food-ingredients vapor.

1. It is true and the ANTZ quite-correctly bust us for lying on that one.

2. There ARE places where food vapor is not allowed, for very good reasons. Allergens can be a serious business. Restaurants, however, is NOT one of those places!

Quite frankly, most of the time I just state "vapor".
Some people don't use flavorings.(sensitive)
Some people prefer peg (allergies)
I see your point, but I'll stick to just plain ol' "vapor".
Are people who are allergic to real peanuts also allergic to fake peanut flavoring?

 

[Berylanna]

That's exactly what he expressed.


Quite frankly, most of the time I just state "vapor".
Some people don't use flavorings.(sensitive)
Some people prefer peg (allergies)
I see your point, but I'll stick to just plain ol' "vapor".
Are people who are allergic to real peanuts also allergic to fake peanut flavoring?

I don't know and I'm not interested in finding out, especially flavor-by-flavor. Now, egg allergies interest me because of my granddaughter.

But you had said "fog vapor" above, I believe, and fog is water vapor.

(Also, all these legislators want a "framework" i.e. pre-existing category to put vapes in, and I think we ought to have a UNIFIED front of what we are suggesting since the ANTZ are saying "use the tobacco framework" and we really want something more-like food/alchohol framework. Make life easier for people who think in metaphors -- that's lots of people and we can't claim God didn't know what She was thinking when She made brains (and people) in a variety of designs.

 

[Uma]

I'll try to remember to say it that way.

Food vapor food vapor vood fapor food vapor

 

[Berylanna]

I'll try to remember to say it that way.

Food vapor food vapor vood fapor food vapor

You should know that this is NOT a majority view among advocates, as far as I can tell. But I keep finding, when talking to legislators, that the real issue is that they want to do the right thing but it's not #1 on their list so they don't want to have to spend weeks learning the science and then have to invent a new paradigm for it.

So I want to give it to them on a platter.

Kind-of like how I want to know where to take my car when it's making noises, not how 2013 cars differ from 1968 cars. No time.

But if you wish to align yourself with my wisdom, I salute you for your excellent taste!

 

[Uma]

I admire your wisdom, and happily comply.

Pray for my memory bank though please.

 

[Berylanna]

I admire your wisdom, and happily comply.

Pray for my memory bank though please.

What did you say? What were we talking about?

 

[Uma]

We're a hopeless bunch aren't we,

 

[soba1]

I got the email I will be at the LA meeting tomorrow. Damn means I gotta dress nice tomorrow.

 

[soba1]

But if you wish to align yourself with my wisdom, I salute you for your excellent taste!

Whooooa you're my guru