American Lung Assn. gives Glendale an ‘A’ for efforts against smoking

For the seventh straight year, Glendale received an “A” on the American Lung Assn.’s State Tobacco Control report card.

The annual report grades California cities on categories such as enforcing outdoor smoke-free areas and reducing the sales of tobacco products.

Glendale was only one of seven cities to earn the highest grade. Neighboring Burbank received a “B” grade.

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In its breakdown, Glendale got an “A” for maintaining smoke-free outdoor air. Excluding streets and sidewalks, smoking is prohibited on all city property.

In 2013, the City Council outlawed smoking in all new, multiunit residential buildings.

The city’s Fresh Air Ordinance in 2008 set many of the smoking bans in motion. It’s also illegal in Glendale to smoke on the front patio of a restaurant, while it’s still allowed on rear patios.

City Manager Scott Ochoa said the “A” grade was a validation of the work the City Council has done over the years in promoting good health.

While many rules are in place against lighting up, the city is working to make sure Glendale maintains a work-life balance and presents itself as an 18-hour city with a nightlife, he said.

“People have the ability to smoke on the [rear] patios and enjoy hookah and other types of uses,” Ochoa said. “I think the goal is to achieve a balance… Nothing has to be mutually exclusive.”

The city also got an “A” in the reducing sales of tobacco products category.

Two years ago, the council adopted higher fees for tobacco retail licenses, upping the cost from $332 to $555.85.

John Yi, an advocacy director with the American Lung Assn., said Glendale has been a leader in California in trying to reduce the adverse effects of smoking.

“Other cities can look at Glendale and the work they’ve done and see [the city] as a model that they should imitate,” he said.

Burbank’s “B” grade came from a combination of an “A” for smoke-free outdoor air and “D” for smoke-free housing.

While it is prohibited to smoke on a patio apartment in Burbank, it’s still legal to smoke inside, said city spokesman Drew Sugars.

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Arin Mikailian, arin.mikailian@latimes.com

Twitter: @ArinMikailian