Press Release

• Tweet

Monday, January 30, 2012

The Walnut Creek City Council last week prioritized secondhand smoke as an issue for the city to consider for its 2012-14 work plan. The topic was selected from approximately 40 issues the City Council considered during a special study session on Tuesday, January 24.

At the meeting, Walnut Creek resident and Tobacco Prevention Coalition member Jennifer Jimenez cited her concerns about secondhand smoke in Walnut Creek and urged the Council to "catch up with the five other jurisdictions in the County that already have adopted strong secondhand smoke protections."

The five jurisdictions, unincorporated Contra Costa, Richmond, Martinez, Pinole and Pleasant Hill, have comprehensive secondhand smoke protections that protect people in many areas where they live, work and play. Protections include prohibiting smoking around doors and windows of all buildings open to the public; in outdoor dining areas; in parks and on trails; in service areas (like ATM lines and bus stops); at public event venues; and inside all workplaces and buildings open to the public. These five jurisdictions also offer protection in certain areas of multi-unit housing, including indoor and outdoor common areas such as laundry rooms and swimming pools. Unincorporated Contra Costa, Pleasant Hill and Pinole prohibit smoking in 100% of new multi-unit housing units and Richmond prohibits smoking in all existing and new multi-unit housing units.

"Walnut Creek is a leader on so many issues in the County and putting these policies in place is consistent with the vision of Walnut Creek as a healthy, vibrant community," Jimenez said.

A final decision on priorities is expected in the coming months as the Council finalizes the City's work plan.

For more information about Secondhand Smoke Protections Policies, call the Tobacco Prevention Coalition at 925-313-6216 or email cctobaccopreventioncoalition@gmail.com.

# # #