Tobacco Curbs Broadened in Pasadena

Pasadena officials are pushing tougher tobacco restrictions, including banning smoking in public parks, in what they describe as an attempt to protect residents from secondhand smoke and to prevent kids from becoming smokers.

New regulations in Pasadena, which is among several cities nationwide pursuing similar rules, will bar tobacco stores from opening within 1,000 feet of schools, parks and other locations frequented by children. In addition, any store that sells tobacco will have to obtain a $135 yearly license, which could be revoked if the store violated the license laws.

The recently approved amendments to Pasadena’s tobacco ordinance are expected to become effective early next year.

“Those are fairly cutting edge for tobacco control not only for California, but for the entire country,” said Bronson Frick, assistant director of Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights, a nonprofit group based in Berkeley.

Pro-tobacco associations and store owners are frustrated with the move and say lawmakers are being hypocritical. They say officials want tight regulations to prevent children from smoking, but don’t want to give up the millions of tax dollars generated by tobacco sales.

“Tobacco generates more money as a product for the local, state and federal governments than any other product in America,” said Charles Janigian, president of the California Assn. of Retail Tobacconists.

In addition to Pasadena, nine California cities have approved measures to prevent tobacco stores from opening near such facilities as schools and libraries, according to Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights.

Among the cities are Oakland and Berkeley.

While the move to ban smoking in parks is not unheard of, it’s still not widespread, according to anti-tobacco lobbyists.

Cities in Florida, Maine, Maryland and other states have banned or are considering banning smoking in parks.

In 1993, Temecula banned smokers from lighting up within 20 feet of nonsmokers in parks. In 1998, San Francisco banned smoking in all parks except Golden Gate Park.

Smoking was banned from playgrounds by state law in 2001.

Those who support the tougher rules are convinced of the benefits of shielding children from smoking and tobacco products.

“It may not be that kids from school will walk into a store and buy cigarettes,” said Paul Little, a Pasadena councilman, “but there is a message to be delivered as to whether it’s appropriate to have cigarettes promoted in that way for young people -- period.”

Deirdra Duncan, a member of the Pasadena Tobacco Prevention Coalition, a group that helped prepare the local ordinances, said her activism had been propelled by her 10-year-old daughter’s severe asthma. In addition, Duncan said, she and her children often found cigarette butts and other litter in parks.

Duncan said that several years ago, the Pasadena Youth Tobacco Prevention Coalition -- of which Duncan’s six children are members -- asked why smoking was allowed in parks but not on school grounds.

It was four years before enough research on secondhand smoke was available for the coalition to garner the support necessary for the parks ban, Duncan said.

Several tobacco store owners said the stricter regulations might have little if any influence on youths who are determined to smoke.

“The location has nothing to do with it,” said Eddie Youssef, owner of two Pasadena smoke shops.

One of his Captain Tobacco stores is about two blocks from a library.

Teenagers “go anywhere” and “can move more than 1,000 feet,” he said.

Youssef was among those who felt tobacco store owners are being treated unfairly.

“I’m selling a legal product,” he said. “I have a right to sell it.

“The way you treat a tobacconist -- it’s like we’re drug dealers. At least we ID.”