Health

Bay Area Leaders Work to Ban Menthol, Flavored Tobacco Products

Published

7 years ago

July 10, 2017

April 18, 2017 Press Conference on Steps of San Francisco City Hall Announcing Landmark Ordinance against Menthol. Photo by Malaika Kambon

A silent public health tsunami ] has been quietly washing through the legislative halls of cities across the Bay Area and like tsunamis most people don’t realize its force and magnitude until it is right upon them. This tsunami is a hard-fought movement of the just, a powerful game changer, the likes of which we have never seen.

Even we, the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council (AATCLC), who have been working on this issue for over a decade, stand in absolute awe.

We stand in awe as leaders, like San Francisco Supervisors Malia Cohen and Asha Safai, Oakland Vice Mayor Annie Campbell Washington and City Councilmember Larry Reid, Contra Costa Board of Supervisor John M, Gioia, and San Leandro Vice-Mayor Lee Thomas, champion and move forward ordinances that will prohibit the sale of menthol cigarettes (Newports) and all flavored tobacco products in their respective jurisdictions.

We pinched ourselves when San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to prohibit the sale of these deadly products within the entire City and County of San Francisco.

Mayor Ed Lee signed the bill into law on July 7th; it will become effective April 1, 2018. Setting the stage to stop the recruitment of future generations of San Franciscans from becoming the replacement smokers for the tobacco industry’s dying customers.

Not another generation of seduced children who because of their zip code are more likely to step on a landmine of nicotine addiction than inherit the good health outcomes fostered by growing up in healthy vibrant communities.

Detractors of cities and counties who are no longer willing to be complicit in the distribution of these deadly products say the cities will just lose tax revenue as people buy them from neighboring cities, well that city won’t be Oakland.

Oakland City Council will vote on similar legislation July 18 and more cities and counties are in various stages, from beginning conversations to final votes, of the process.

The African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council (AATCLC) has worked tirelessly to get menthol out of our communities, and we applaud these efforts. Tobacco control and prevention have always been a local grassroots fight.

We know that while other societal ills continually rivet our communal attention and resources, tobacco remains the number one killer of Black folks. Taking 45,000 Black souls each and every year. We know that strong public health policy will foster healthier communities and allow us to better deal with other critical issues facing us.

The AATCLC calls on our communities, our health departments, our leadership groups, our clergy, and our businesses to take the passage of these historic laws as an opportunity to support our legislators as they take on the tobacco industry, these federally adjudicated racketeers are better resourced and equipped than the Mafia. Our community has borne the brunt of their racialized profiling. The industry will fight harder to keep what they think of as “their turf”- that would be Black folks. Tell them to GET OUT!

The African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council (AATCLC), a collective of tobacco control experts dedicated to research, community collaboration and public engagement, is working to stop the 45, 000 preventable deaths of African Americans due to tobacco related diseases. Find out more at
savingblacklive.org

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Activism

LIVE! — TOWN HALL ON RACISM AND ITS IMPACT — THURS. 11.14.24 5PM PST

Join us for a LIVE Virtual Town Hall on the Impact of Racism hosted by Post News Group Journalist Carla Thomas and featuring Oakland, CA NAACP President Cynthia Adams & other Special Guests.
Thursday, November 14, 2024, 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. PST

Published

5 days ago

November 12, 2024

Oakland Post

Discussion Topics:
• Since the pandemic, what battles have the NAACP fought nationally, and how have they impacted us locally?
• What trends are you seeing concerning Racism? Is it more covert or overt?
• What are the top 5 issues resulting from racism in our communities?
• How do racial and other types of discrimination impact local communities?
• What are the most effective ways our community can combat racism and hate?

Your questions and comments will be shared LIVE with the moderators and viewers during the broadcast.

STREAMED LIVE!
FACEBOOK: facebook.com/PostNewsGroup
YOUTUBE: youtube.com/blackpressusatv
X: twitter.com/blackpressusa

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Activism

NAACP California-Hawaii State Convention Highlights Black Voter Engagement, and More

A Friday panel featuring NAACP Chairman Leon W. Russell and Regina Wilson, Executive Director of California Black Media, examined Project 2025, an initiative perceived as a potential threat to civil rights, healthcare access, and environmental protection. This session emphasized Project 2025’s projected impact on Black communities, noting that policies within the initiative could diminish gains in civil and environmental rights over decades. Russell and Wilson highlighted the need for vigilant monitoring and community mobilization to address these challenges.

Published

2 weeks ago

November 4, 2024

Oakland Post

NAACP State Conference President Rick Callender (right) engages in a discussion on voter engagement and community advocacy with NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson during the 37th NAACP California-Hawaii State Convention in Los Angeles. Photo by Rich Woods.

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

The 37th NAACP California-Hawaii State Convention concluded on Sunday, Oct 27, following four days of discussions and workshops at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott. Bringing together civil rights leaders, policymakers, and advocates from California and Hawaii, the convention operated under the theme “All In.” The participants discussed critical issues impacting Black communities, including criminal justice reform, health equity, economic empowerment, education, environmental justice, and voting rights.

On Saturday, the President’s Fireside Chat brought together NAACP President Derrick Johnson and CA/HI State Conference President Rick Callender, who discussed the urgency of voter engagement and community advocacy.

Guest speakers included Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA-43), who spoke at the Women in NAACP (WIN) Labor Luncheon about the intersection of labor rights and civil rights. California State Superintendent Tony Thurmond delivered remarks at the Leadership Dinner on education equity, focusing on policies to ensure all students have access to high-quality education.

Honors were given to longtime social justice advocate and former Assemblymember Mike Davis for his work in community activism. At the same time, actor and activist Danny Glover and the Rev. Dr. Amos C. Brown received the 2024 Legacy Hall of Fame Awards, recognizing their lifelong commitments to advancing civil rights.

The convention also offered practical workshops, including “What’s On Your Ballot?,” where coalition leaders provided analyses of California propositions, explaining their potential impacts on community rights and resources. The Voter Turnout Workshop provided background and encouraged participants to promote voter turnout through community-centered outreach strategies.

Sunday’s events closed with a Prayer and Memorial Breakfast honoring the contributions of past and current civil rights leaders.

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Atty Gen Bonta: U.S. Law Mandating Emergency Care to All Patients Faces Threats

The attorney general highlighted that EMTALA is vital for ensuring that no individual is turned away from emergency services based on financial status or insurance coverage. Bonta stated that the law has been a cornerstone of emergency healthcare for decades, providing peace of mind to millions of Americans who might otherwise hesitate to seek urgent medical attention due to cost concerns.

Published

2 weeks ago

November 3, 2024

Oakland Post

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By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

California Attorney General Rob Bonta emphasized the critical need to protect the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), mandating that hospitals provide emergency care to all patients regardless of their ability to pay.

In a recent statement, Bonta highlighted the potential threats to this essential legislation amid ongoing discussions about healthcare accessibility in the U.S.

“EMTALA ensures that no one is denied access to emergency medical care, including abortion care, and this federal law is more imperative than ever following the overturn of Roe v. Wade,” said Bonta.

This decision to support the federal government’s case comes at a time when many healthcare providers are facing pressure from rising costs and legislative changes that could undermine existing protections. Bonta called on lawmakers to reinforce EMTALA’s provisions and to combat any efforts aimed at weakening the act, asserting that equitable access to emergency care is a fundamental right.

He urged state and federal governments to ensure that all Americans, particularly marginalized communities, have the necessary access to emergency services without fear of financial repercussions. The brief indicates the coalition’s commitment to healthcare equity, emphasizing that maintaining strong protections under EMTALA is crucial for safeguarding public health.

As discussions around healthcare policy continue, Bonta remains steadfast in promoting initiatives that protect emergency care access, asserting that everyone deserves timely and appropriate medical treatment in emergencies. His efforts align with ongoing legal and advocacy battles to preserve the rights established by EMTALA in the face of evolving healthcare challenges.