New Bedford Board of Health announced a public hearing (October 20, 2011) on regulations pertaining to Prohibiting Smoking in Workplaces and Public Places and Youth Access to tobacco Products. Proposed amendments include restrictions on the sale and use of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Products (E-Cigarettes). No info on details and focus (minors and/or total population) of the proposed regulations.
City of New Bedford (MA): emerging legislation relating to e-cigs
- Thread starter Tom09
- Start date
- th_trl_thread_readers 0
- Status
Let me guess. They borrowed the Boston PHC text as the model for their proposed regulations.
And they are being so coy about it.
Let me translate: "Come prepared to testify, but we aren't going to let you know what it is you are testifying about (unless you are one of our good buddies) until you get there."
And they are being so coy about it.
Let me translate: "Come prepared to testify, but we aren't going to let you know what it is you are testifying about (unless you are one of our good buddies) until you get there."
Last edited:
Grrr! Yes Elaine, you are correct there. Amazing they don't have to give details to the public.. how are people suppose to decide if they need to attend, write, etc. A lousy tactic IMHO.
And when officials pull tricks like that, it tells us that they are aware that they are doing something bad. If they believed they were doing a good thing, they would not be hesitant or ashamed to expose their plan to the bright light of day.
There is no contact information posted for the Board of Health members on the City of New Bedford Web site. I have drafted an email message to the Mayor, asking him to request that the NBBH post electronic copies of the proposed regulations on the web site at least a week before the public hearing. "This will provide citizens with the opportunity to study the text in advance, and allow them to download a copy at their convenience, instead of being forced to take time off from work and travel to city hall to pick up a paper copy." I also suggest that the Mayor have the city attorney to review both proposed regulations to make sure they do not expose the city to potential litigation.
If you get anymore details about this and are able to find out who we should email please post it on the CASSA's Face Book page--I'm there daily!
Proposed legislation -- New Bedford Health Department Final Draft Amended Youth Access Regulation for Nicotine Delivery Products
Unless there is a separate piece of legislation covering indoor use, it is not included.
However, the proposed regulation would ban e-cigarette sellers from selling products out of their original packaging. With cigarettes, this is very clear. What the heck does that mean for e-cigarettes though?
Unless there is a separate piece of legislation covering indoor use, it is not included.
However, the proposed regulation would ban e-cigarette sellers from selling products out of their original packaging. With cigarettes, this is very clear. What the heck does that mean for e-cigarettes though?
Ugh. They do in fact have separate proposed legislation for the usage of e-cigarettes.
New Bedford, MA Health Department Proposed Ban on E-Cigarette Usage
New Bedford, MA Health Department Proposed Ban on E-Cigarette Usage
if you click the "contact us" link at the bottom of the page it brings you to your own email with this address in the send to bar
webmaster@newbedford-ma.gov <webmaster@newbedford-ma.gov>;
webmaster@newbedford-ma.gov <webmaster@newbedford-ma.gov>;
I will call tomorrow and ask if comments can be sent to that address. If anyone does send a public comment there, I recommend you put board@casaa.org in the BCC line of your e-mail. We will print your comment and send it in paper form.
Comments will be accepted from Thursday night until November 1, 2011. So thankfully, the vote will not be taking place on Thursday.
Dragonlover, it'd be great if you could attend.
Thoughtful legal drafting:
The definition of 'Nicotine Delivery Product' is so broad that every tobacco product is included
The definition of 'Nicotine Delivery Product' is so broad that every tobacco product is included
The head of the Health Department's e-mail address is Marianne.DeSouza@newbedford-ma.gov. I'd send correspondence there as well.
New Bedford, MA Call to Action (Indoor Use / Sales Restrictions)
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Comments will be accepted on this legislation until November 1, 2011.
Indoor Use Ban: New Bedford, MA Health Department Proposed Ban on E-Cigarette Usage
Sales Restrictions: New Bedford Health Department Final Draft Amended Youth Access Regulation for Nicotine Delivery Products
These Ordinances would:
Ban the use of electronic cigarettes, regardless of whether or not they contain nicotine, in places where tobacco cigarette smoking is prohibited
Rightfully ban e-cigarette sales to minors, but enact vague regulations on the sale of 'nicotine delivery products' out of their original packaging.
Please call or write the members of the New Bedford, MA Board of Health below
What to say:
1. You want them to decline to pass the restrictions on e-cigarette usage. Furthermore, you want them to amend the sales restriction regulation to eliminate the unnecessary and vague sales restrictions in Section E.
2. Tell your story on how switching to an e-cigarette or smokeless tobacco has changed your life
3. Explain how smoking bans are enacted to protect the public from the harm of second-hand smoke, but electronic cigarettes have not been shown to cause harm to bystanders.
* In fact, all evidence to date shows that the low health risks associated with electronic cigarettes is comparable to other smokeless nicotine products.
* This is supported by research done by Dr. Siegel of Boston University, Dr. Eissenberg of Virginia Commonwealth and Dr. Laugesen of Health New Zealand 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
4. Let them know that vapor does not behave in the same manner as smoke.
* There is no "side stream" vapor like the side stream smoke coming from the lit end of a cigarette and unlike cigarette smoke,
* The vapor is virtually odorless and dissipates quickly.
* There is also no ash or litter.
* 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 very quickly completely replace tobacco cigarettes with the electronic cigarettes, reducing their health risks by 98-99%.
* So even if smokers think they are using electronic cigarettes just for indoor use, the chances are high that they will stop using tobacco cigarettes altogether
6. Tell them that by switching to a smokeless product, you have greatly reduced your health risks.
Public comments can be submitted in two ways
(1) Via e-mail to Marianne.DeSouza@newbedford-ma.gov. Please ask that public comments be forwarded to Board of Health members.
(2) By mail to:
New Bedford Health Department
1213 Purchase Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Comments will be accepted on this legislation until November 1, 2011.
Indoor Use Ban: New Bedford, MA Health Department Proposed Ban on E-Cigarette Usage
Sales Restrictions: New Bedford Health Department Final Draft Amended Youth Access Regulation for Nicotine Delivery Products
These Ordinances would:
Ban the use of electronic cigarettes, regardless of whether or not they contain nicotine, in places where tobacco cigarette smoking is prohibited
Rightfully ban e-cigarette sales to minors, but enact vague regulations on the sale of 'nicotine delivery products' out of their original packaging.
Please call or write the members of the New Bedford, MA Board of Health below
What to say:
1. You want them to decline to pass the restrictions on e-cigarette usage. Furthermore, you want them to amend the sales restriction regulation to eliminate the unnecessary and vague sales restrictions in Section E.
2. Tell your story on how switching to an e-cigarette or smokeless tobacco has changed your life
3. Explain how smoking bans are enacted to protect the public from the harm of second-hand smoke, but electronic cigarettes have not been shown to cause harm to bystanders.
* In fact, all evidence to date shows that the low health risks associated with electronic cigarettes is comparable to other smokeless nicotine products.
* This is supported by research done by Dr. Siegel of Boston University, Dr. Eissenberg of Virginia Commonwealth and Dr. Laugesen of Health New Zealand 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
4. Let them know that vapor does not behave in the same manner as smoke.
* There is no "side stream" vapor like the side stream smoke coming from the lit end of a cigarette and unlike cigarette smoke,
* The vapor is virtually odorless and dissipates quickly.
* There is also no ash or litter.
* 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 very quickly completely replace tobacco cigarettes with the electronic cigarettes, reducing their health risks by 98-99%.
* So even if smokers think they are using electronic cigarettes just for indoor use, the chances are high that they will stop using tobacco cigarettes altogether
6. Tell them that by switching to a smokeless product, you have greatly reduced your health risks.
Public comments can be submitted in two ways
(1) Via e-mail to Marianne.DeSouza@newbedford-ma.gov. Please ask that public comments be forwarded to Board of Health members.
(2) By mail to:
New Bedford Health Department
1213 Purchase Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
unfortunately i wasnt able to but someone from the New England Vapers Group on Facebook did. It didn't sound like it went well. I would like to write a "good" email but am not very good a writing. If anyone could give me hand that would be great. Apparently some of the tactics now being used against ecigs are that they can be used for drug use. If thats the kind of thinking they have then they also need to bad hookas, blunts, rolling papers, and glass pipes. I mean even a radio antennae can be used to smoke crack .......! I would like to make them aware of these types of things, but not come off as being--well you know--Also, my husband is allergic to cigarette smoke but the vapor from my pv doesn't affect him at all! Again if some one could help me write a email that i could send it would be great!!
Thanks
DL
Thanks
DL
Done and added copies to all the council folk that I could find email addresses for and asked Marianne to provide copies to the mayor and anyone else I couldn't find attys for.
dragonlover, you have a PM.
dragonlover, you have a PM.
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
