The Saint Paul City Council showed strong leadership in protecting the health and well-being of its residents on Jan. 6. The City Council voted unanimously to restrict the sale of flavored tobacco products to adult-only tobacco stores and increase the minimum price for single cigars to $2.60 each. All cigars sold in packages of four or less must be priced at $2.60 each, while cigars packaged at four or more must be at least $10.40. “It’s a big deal that we’re going to make it harder for youth to access these products,” council president Russ Stark said. Saint Paul joins Minneapolis in restricting the sale of flavored tobacco products. Other places to restrict flavored tobacco sales include Providence, R.I., and New York City. Saint Paul was one of the first cities in the state to set a minimum price for cigars, but the ordinance will raise the price to $2.60 to match surrounding cities. “I think this is a good ordinance that sends a strong message to the tobacco industry,” said Councilmember Dai Thao, one of five co-sponsors of the ordinance. “We can’t trade the health of future generations for the tobacco industry’s profit.” The room turned green as Councilmember Amy Brendmoen, who first introduced the ordinance, had supporters of the ordinance stand up. Most of the advocates sported a green shirt that said, “The tobacco industry targets youth with flavored tobacco … but there’s nothing sweet about tobacco.” The tobacco industry has a long history of targeting young people with cheap and flavored tobacco. Alicia Leizinger, from the Ramsey Tobacco Coalition, said she is thrilled Saint Paul is taking action to stop that. “Saint Paul has once again proven itself to be a leader willing to stand up to the tobacco industry’s blatant attempts at hooking kids with candy flavored tobacco,” Leizinger said. “I’m proud of the young people who brought this issue to the attention of the City Council and urged them to take action to protect Saint Paul’s youth.” Council newcomer Jane Prince, who was sworn in on Tuesday, also voiced her support. She pointed out how naysayers said the bar and restaurant industry would go under if smoking were banned in those places. “But we’re thriving,” Prince said. “I’m supportive of this and appreciative of the young people who worked on this. The young man (Traielle Godfrey) who testified said it best. Candy-flavored tobacco products don’t have a place where children can enter.”

Richfield joined a growing list of Minnesota cities that have established a minimum price for flavored cigars. The Richfield City Council voted unanimously on Nov. 10, 2015, to set a minimum price of $2.60 per stick for non-premium cigars and set a minimum of $10.40 for packs of four or more. “I’m very pleased to see this moving forward,” Mayor Debbie Goettel said during the council meeting. “It’s in the best interest of Richfield’s youth and health.” The new ordinance brings Richfield’s tobacco licensing ordinance up to state minimums and puts into place pioneering policies that will protect youth from the harms of tobacco. This policy adds Richfield to a growing list of cities that have set minimum prices for the sale of non-premium cigars including: Brooklyn Center, Saint Paul, Bloomington, Maplewood and Minneapolis. Councilmember Michael Howard said. “I think this is the ordinance that really sort of gets at access for kids.” Additionally, the updated ordinance prohibits the use of electronic cigarettes in city-owned parks and other recreational facilities; prohibits the sale of any electronic cigarette liquid that is not in child-resistant packaging and prohibits indoor smoking and sampling of tobacco products and electronic cigarettes, except in establishments that are already licensed by the City. “This new ordinance will help protect Richfield youth from becoming lifelong tobacco users,” said Kari Oldfield, Legal and Community Outreach Coordinator for ANSR. “We are proud of the Richfield Advisory Board of Health and City Council for taking on this important issue and protecting the health of the residents and visitors of the city.” This new ordinance goes into effect on Dec. 19, 2015.

The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners continued its strong leadership regarding the health and safety of its residents when it voted 6-1 on Sept. 22, to include electronic cigarettes in its clean indoor air policy and prohibit use of e-cigarettes and cigarettes within 25 feet of building entrances. By including e-cigarettes in the clean indoor air policy, county leaders have established use of e-cigarettes will not be allowed anywhere conventional cigarettes are not allowed, such as work places, bars and restaurants. In 2005, Ramsey County showed leadership in passing one of the state’s first smoking bans for bars and restaurants. Two years later, the Minnesota legislature enacted the statewide Freedom to Breathe law, protecting all Minnesotans from the harms of secondhand smoke. Ramsey County has taken a stand to ensure our residents, workers and visitors aren’t needlessly exposed to tobacco and e-cigarette use when they are in indoor public spaces, or simply entering and leaving buildings, said Jim McDonough, Chair of the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners. Hopefully, the state will follow suit and recognize the need to protect all Minnesotans from the harms of secondhand smoke and e-cigarette emissions. In addition to McDonough, Commissioner Blake Huffman, Commissioner Mary Jo McGuire and Commissioner Rafael Ortega spoke up in support of the ordinance. Commissioner Huffman lauded the wonderfully diverse community advocates who spoke at the public hearing on Sept. 8, while Commissioner McGuire concurred. Commissioner Ortega addressed the adverse health impact of electronic cigarettes, which emit an aerosol laced with nicotine, harmful chemicals and metal particles. The bottom line is if there is any uncertainty about the impact it has on health, we’re doing the right thing, Ortega said. It’s better to move in the direction we’re moving. We need to keep enhancing the health of our community. Ramsey County joins nine other counties and 20 cities in Minnesota that have also prohibited the use of electronic cigarettes wherever conventional smoking is not allowed, according to Katie Engman, program director for Ramsey Tobacco Coalition. State law prohibits the use of e-cigarettes in places such as schools, state colleges and universities, government buildings, hospitals and clinics, but state legislators stopped short of enacting a comprehensive usage ban. Kudos to Ramsey County leaders for protecting clean indoor air for all residents and visitors, Engman said. They’ve also gone one step further in protecting public health by not allowing conventional cigarettes or e-cigarettes within 25 feet of all building entrances. These actions show true public health leadership that should be commended.

The Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously on July 10 to restrict the sale of flavored tobacco products, other than menthol, to adult-only tobacco shops. The Council also increased the price of cigars to $2.60 per stick. Four cities in Minnesota, including Maplewood, Bloomington, Saint Paul and Brooklyn Center, previously adopted policies that regulate the price of cheap cigars. However, no other Minnesota cities have restricted the sale of flavored tobacco products. Nationally, New York City and Providence, RI, have similar policies in place that served as a model for the Minneapolis ordinance. The new policy means that only about 15 of the city’s 400-plus tobacco vendors will be allowed to sell candy-flavored tobacco products. In order to sell these products, the stores must derive at least 90 percent of their revenue from tobacco and be adult-only at all times. Council Members Blong Yang (Ward 5) and Cam Gordon (Ward 2) co-authored the ordinance in response to input from youth in the Minneapolis Youth Congress and the Breathe Free North program at NorthPoint Health & Wellness. The youth said these products are appealing to young people in their communities. “We heard loud and clear from Minneapolis youth that flavored tobacco products are what most kids use when they start smoking,” Council Member Cam Gordon said. “We believe that limiting access to these products will help prevent youth from becoming addicted to nicotine and dramatically improve the health of future generations.” Opponents of the policy included convenience store owners and chains, such as Holiday, SuperAmerica, Bobby & Steve’s, retailer associations, and Altria the company that makes Marlboro and Skoal. Proponents included health groups and groups who work with youth. “This policy is an important step in the fight to reduce the harm caused by tobacco. These changes will protect youth from lifelong addiction to tobacco and the associated health problems. We are proud of the Minneapolis City Council for showing leadership and voting to protect the health of Minneapolis youth,” Betsy Brock, Director of Research at ANSR, said. The policy takes effect on Jan. 1.

About 55 St. Paul African American community leaders, youth, public health professionals and interested community members gathered for a Menthol Community Conversation on June 17. National experts from the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council presented to the group about the deliberate targeting of the African American community by tobacco companies using menthol.  They presented information about what other communities have done to reduce the impact of menthol on their communities. The meetings’ intent was to raise awareness about menthol and its impact on St. Paul’s African American community. The St. Paul meeting was one of six meetings held that week across the Metro. Ramsey Tobacco Coalition and our partners at Aurora St. Anthony Neighborhood Development Corporation coordinated and hosted the event.  Youth from Vision In Living Life: Change is Possible performed a skit to the audience to introduce the Rondo neighborhood and dramatize its history. Those in attendance learned how the tobacco industry has strategically targeted African American communities with menthol, the devastating effect, and what can be done to put an end to the harms.

Maplewood, Minn. – The Maplewood City Council showed strong leadership in protecting the health and well-being of its residents on May 11. The City Council voted unanimously to set a minimum price for single cigars at $2.60 each. All cigars sold in packages of four or less must be priced at $2.60 each. For example, a two-pack of cigars would cost $5.20 and a three-pack would cost $7.80, four or more cigars would cost at least $10.40. The ordinance also sets a minimum age of 18 for anyone selling tobacco or tobacco-related products. The city did not previously have a minimum age requirement. Setting it at 18 often eliminates peer pressure. Falcon Heights has previously set a minimum age of seller at 18. The use of electronic cigarettes in tobacco shops will now be prohibited in the same way that smoking is prohibited in these shops. However, four existing businesses will be grandfathered into the new regulations. The City intends to discuss prohibiting the use of electronic cigarettes in all indoor public places at a later date. Mayor Nora Slawik said she voted in favor of the proposal in order to protect young people in Maplewood. “These deadly and addictive products are far too accessible to young people,” Slawik said. “This ordinance will help keep tobacco out of the hands of kids. It will help prevent youth from experiencing the terrible health consequences of tobacco use.” Students from Tartan High School’s Students Against Destructive Decisions and John Glenn Middle School’s Support Our Schools group were strong advocates for the proposal. Councilmember Kathleen Juenemann said, “Young people came out, contacted us and asked us to help protect their peers. The young people reinforced to me what this ordinance is all about. Young people want to be protected, and we are the elected officials who need to protect them.  It is the right thing to do.” In raising the price of single cigars, Maplewood joins Brooklyn Center, Saint Paul and Bloomington as Minnesota cities to pass such strong ordinances to prevent youth initiation to smoking. “I am proud that Maplewood is leading the way to prevent young people from becoming addicted to tobacco,” Juenemann said. The tobacco industry has a long history of targeting young people with cheap and flavored tobacco. Ramsey Tobacco Coalition’s Katie Engman said she is thrilled Maplewood is taking action to stop that. “Raising the price of tobacco is one of the most effective methods to prevent tobacco use among young people,” Engman said. “Thank you to the students, community and council members for taking on this important issue.”

The ClearWay “Tobacco is Still A Problem” Day at the Capitol on April 29 was a day of awesome advocacy and a great success. ANSR worked with more than 50 advocates representing seven organizations. Advocates spoke to more than 30 legislators about how tobacco is still a problem in Minnesota. On hand for the day were the Henry Sibley High ALMAS (Anglos Latinos Motivated to Succeed), Tartan High’s SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), Aurora St. Anthony’s Vision in Living Life: Change is Possible, the LAAMPP Policy Champs, Southside Urban Coalition, NorthPoint’s Breathe Free North and Hamline law students. Advocates spent the morning learning about statewide tobacco issues and preparing for meetings with legislators. In the afternoon, they spoke individually with their legislators about tobacco-related issues. Advocates educated their legislators on three issues: Regulating electronic cigarettes and adding them to clean indoor air ordinances, How the tobacco industry targets youth and minorities with flavored and menthol products, Keeping cigarette taxes high to keep youth from starting smoking and encourage smokers to quit.

March 18 marked the 20th anniversary of Kick Butts Day, and thousands of youth, teachers and health advocates in the United States spoke up against Big Tobacco. Locally, ANSR worked with four schools from ISD #622, as well as the ALMAS group at Henry Sibley High. ANSR partnered with Minneapolis MAD DADS and Southside Urban Coalition for a Quit Cold Turkey event at the Lake Street West CVS in Minneapolis, as well. The various groups took a stand against being targeted by the industry. John Glenn, Skyview and Maplewood middle schools, as well as Tartan Senior High, participated in events for ISD 622. The ALMAS (Anglos Latinos Motivated to Succeed) are in Mendota Heights. Youth at ISD 622 schools educated their peers on the dangers of tobacco, including flavored tobacco. Students were able to answer questions about tobacco to earn prizes and learn more about tobacco. Students learned about the dangerous chemicals in cigarettes. Schools used shoe and balloon displays to represent the U.S. hourly tobacco-related deaths as a way to grab the attention of fellow students. More than 1,200 people (or 50 per hour) die every day from tobacco-related causes. At Henry Sibley High, the ALMAS group also had a shoe display. Students were able to sign postcards to their city council members calling attention to ways to protect youth from being targeted. Students at Skyview, John Glenn and Henry Sibley have already been spreading the word about the dangers of electronic cigarettes and how the tobacco industry uses flavored tobacco to target youth by making videos that were shared with their school. In Minneapolis, the groups encouraged people to trade in their pack of cigarettes for a turkey sandwich. There was a live radio remote on KMOJ-FM promoting the event and discussing the dangers of smoking. There was live music during the event. The event aimed to educate the public about the benefits of quitting smoking. The event featured numerous giveaways for participants and also touted the latest contest sponsored by QuitPlan Services, the state’s help line to quit smoking. The contest, called “QuitCash Challenge” gives smokers a chance to win $5,000 for quitting smoking during the month of May.

Macalester College in Saint Paul implemented a comprehensive 100 percent tobacco-free campus policy on Jan. 1. The policy comes after years of considering how best to address tobacco use on campus, a process that involved faculty, staff, students and community partners. Macalester’s policy prohibits the use of tobacco in any form, including electronic cigarettes, anywhere on campus. It also provides for accessible cessation resources for the campus community. Macalester joins more than 50 other campuses in Minnesota in adopting a tobacco-free policy, including many nearby post-secondary institutions. St. Kate’s, St. Thomas and the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities have all implemented tobacco-free policies for their campuses. While adult tobacco use in Minnesota continues to tick downward, tobacco is still a problem on many college campuses. The use rate among 18-24 year-olds has been the highest for any age group in the state. This is largely because the tobacco industry targets young adults with advertising, promotions and new products, creating a cohort of new, life-long tobacco users. New data from the 2014 Minnesota Adult Tobacco Survey showed a decrease from 21.8 percent to 15.3 percent in 2014, the lowest for this age group since the survey began. The goal of Macalester’s tobacco-free campus is to improve the health outcomes for all students, faculty, and staff, including those who live and work near smokers. Tobacco-free campus policies are proven to support those tobacco users who would like to quit, prevent initiation among non-tobacco users, reduce exposure to secondhand smoke and decrease costly and harmful tobacco litter. Nationwide, there are at least 1,477 smoke free campuses.

MINNEAPOLIS PASSES STRONG ORDINANCE Ordinance restricts indoor e-cigarette usage in public indoor spaces Minneapolis, Minn. – The Minneapolis City Council continued its strong leadership in protecting the health and safety of its residents on Friday morning. The City Council voted unanimously to prohibit electronic cigarette use in most public indoor spaces. The ordinance update means the use of electronic cigarettes is not allowed anywhere conventional cigarette use is also not allowed, such as restaurants and bars. This ordinance change helps protect the general public from exposure to electronic cigarette emissions, which are known to contain ingredients that are harmful to human health. Further, this ordinance upholds a smoke-free norm and protects youth from exposure to these products, which is important given that electronic cigarettes are becoming popular with high school students. The recent Minnesota Youth Tobacco Survey, released in November, shows 28 percent of high school students have tried e-cigarettes, and 13 percent have used or tried them in the past 30 days. Nearly a quarter of those who have tried e-cigarettes have never tried conventional tobacco products. “We are thrilled that the Minneapolis City Council has taken this important step to protect Minneapolis workers, residents, and visitors” said Betsy Brock, Research Director for the Association for Nonsmokers-Minnesota (ANSR).

Bloomington, Minn. – The City of Bloomington continued its strong leadership regarding the health and safety of its residents, particularly youth, on Nov. 17, 2104. The Bloomington City Council voted unanimously to include electronic cigarettes in its clean indoor air ordinance and set a minimum price for single cigars at $2.60 each. All cigars sold in packages of less than five must be priced at $2.60 each. For example, a two-pack of cigars would cost $5.20, a three-pack would cost $7.80 and up to five. Increasing the price of tobacco is the single most effective way to prevent youth tobacco initiation. The ordinance, which puts an end to 50-cent cigars being sold in Bloomington, will prevent many youth from starting a lifelong deadly addiction. In 2004, the city set a high standard for clean indoor air by restricting smoking in workplaces and public indoor spaces and by preventing smoking 25 feet from entrances. The city also prohibited smoking in parks. The ordinance update means the use of electronic cigarettes is not allowed anywhere conventional cigarette use is also not allowed, such as restaurants and bars. “A decade ago, the Bloomington City Council showed its commitment to public health when it amended our ordinances in favor of smoke-free workspaces and public places,” Bloomington city council member Cynthia Bemis Abrams said. “(Monday’s) vote aligns limits on e-cigarettes to regular cigarettes, so that our local businesses can be consistent with enforcement, and our residents and visitors can be confident that the air they breathe, in their offices or in a restaurant, is clean.” These ordinance changes help protect youth from two tobacco products popular with youth. Cigarette use among middle and high school students has decreased dramatically in the past decade, but cigar use has not. Also, the recent Minnesota Youth Tobacco Survey, released last week, shows 28 percent of high school students have tried e-cigarettes, and 13 percent have used or tried them in the past 30 days. Nearly a quarter of those who have tried e-cigarettes have never tried conventional products. “We are thrilled that the Bloomington City Council took this common-sense step to protect the health of residents and visitors,” said Betsy Brock, Research Director for the Association for Nonsmokers-Minnesota (ANSR). In raising the price of single cigars, Bloomington joins Saint Paul and Brooklyn Center as the only cities in Minnesota to pass such strong ordinances to prevent youth initiation to smoking. Bloomington is also among 15 cities and two counties to treat e-cigarettes the same as conventional cigarettes in indoor public spaces.

Saying thank you The Association for Nonsmokers-Minnesota (ANSR) marked the end of an era in January 2014, and celebrated the work of Brittany McFadden, an innovator in the public health field and smoke-free air movement. During her 13 years, McFadden created ANSR’s Tobacco Free Youth Recreation (TFYR) and Live Smoke Free programs. TFYR focuses on smoke-free outdoor air, while Live Smoke Free works on smoke-free, multi-unit housing policies. At the time, each program was groundbreaking and among the first of its kind in the nation. While at ANSR, McFadden’s work resulted in 100-plus Minnesota parks adopting smoke-free policies. Hundreds of multi-unit buildings went smoke free, resulting in thousands of Minnesotans being protected from secondhand smoke. McFadden has been a true leader in the smoke-free air movement and has traveled around the nation to mentor other public health advocates. Members of the public health community came out to praise one of its best champions and reflect on McFadden’s accomplishments. What they said “Brittany played the leadin g role in creating and directing two of ANSR’s most successful programs, Tobacco Free Youth Recreation and Live Smoke Free.  Both of these programs became, and remain, national leaders and set the standard for others to emulate.” - Jeanne Weigum, ANSR preside nt “During her tenure at ANSR , Brittany has been a true advocate for smoke-free venues throughout Minnesota. Brittany was the main author of the manuals for those programs. They are now considered Bibles within the Tobacco Prevention Community. She is an innovative, self-motivated, talented individual, who has been instrumental in providing clean indoor and outdoor air to Minnesotans. Brittany has received national recognition for her efforts.” - Lisa Marshall, ANSR Board M ember “Brittany is an amazing in dividual who had dedicated the past 13 years to making Minnesota a healthier place to live, play and work.   She led the tobacco-free youth recreation program, creating 100-plus tobacco free parks in Minnesota, setting the standard for tobacco-free outdoor areas in the nation.  When Brittany took on smoke-free multi-unit housing, she had a vision of what the program would look like. I remember how simple the smoke-free apartments program was before Live Smoke Free was created.  She advocated for funding, successfully received funding and created a top-notch smoke-free apartments program that is now nationally recognized.Brittany has shown tremendous dedication, passion and commitment in creating environments free of tobacco and secondhand smoke.  Her “can do” attitude, energy and passion has transferred to many advocates she trained on parks and housing.” - Katie Engman, ANSR Program Director “Not only is Brittany incr edibly talented, she is simply a wonderful person, and I feel grateful for her friendship. When I think of all she has done for tobacco control in Minnesota, it is truly amazing. She built TFYR in a way that has impacted so many park systems across the state, and that work even expanded to fair grounds and zoos.  It became a model for others to follow across the country.  She repeated this act with smoke-free multi-unit housing, and many lessons from that program were applied to Smoke-Free Lodging.  All of these are top-notch tobacco control initiatives because of the passion, dedication and thoughtfulness she personally invested to ensure that they would be high quality and effective. Because of her work, social norms were changed, and thousands of people have been impacted with a reduction in secondhand smoke exposure. And thousands more will continue to be positively impacted for generations into the future due to the lasting policy work she created and supported.” - Pat Stieg, ANSR Board Membe r