Tacoma-Pierce County Bait & Switch?
Tuesday, May 17, 2011

The Tacoma-Pierce County Board of Health supposedly held a Public Meeting Monday night to hear comments from citizens regarding two proposed changes to the Environmental Health Code, but the members of the actual board were conspicuously absent.

An impressive group of over 25 e-cigarette users and supporters spoke out against parts of the regulation that would prohibit indoor use of the devices and disallows "free samples," which would negatively impact brick-and-mortar e-cigarette sellers, who often depend upon smokers trying their products to convince them that e-cigarettes can replace smoking. With the great turnout of supporters, it was a surprise to many that no one was there from those organizations which typically oppose e-cigarette use, such as the American Lung Association or American Cancer Society.

Initially excited by the lack of opposition, CASAA has learned that the three "panelists" listening to the passionate and often poignant testimony of those speaking were not even members of the Tacoma-Pierce County Board of Health. The panel reportedly consisted of Gregory Jacoby, General Counsel for the Tacoma Pierce County Health Department, Dr. Paul Sastael, and Kirsten Frandsen, Prevention Program Coordinator - none of whom sit on the Board of Health.

The actual board that will vote on this ordinance is meeting at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18th, and while they are not expected to vote on the regulations until the June 1st meeting, that cannot be counted on.

Those in attendence Monday night were told that their remarks would be transcribed and given to the board, however, CASAA highly suspects that representatives from anti-electronic cigarette organizations, such as the ALA or ACS, will be in attendence at tomorrow's meeting to make their case. This will give them the advantage, as the written transcript of last night's speakers would not possibly have the same impact upon the board members as hearing them in person. (If we had wanted the board to just read our comments, we would have simply submitted the form and not shown up at the meeting.)

It seems that the members of Tacoma's e-cigarette community were given a "bait and switch," possibly intended to keep them from attending and testifying before the actual Board of Health. Because we can be almost certain that those supporting the ban of indoor use will take the opportunity to address the board tomorrow, CASAA is urgently calling to our members and those who attended Monday's meeting to bring their comments with them back to Wednesday's meeting. It is of the utmost importance that the board members see and hear real members of the community so that the efforts of last night's attendence will not be be for naught.

Please contact Director Thad Marney at board@casaa.org to coordinate attending and speaking at tomorrow night's meeting!

If you cannot attend, please see our Call to Action page for other options to address the board: http://www.casaa.org/CTA/article.asp?ar ... =165&l=a&p

mama wrote:Any updates for this morning?