Summary
Led a local public policy advocacy campaign to position Burbank as a “Smoke-Free City,” using strategic messaging, community outreach, and digital media to build awareness and public support.
Scope of Work
● Public policy advocacy and campaign strategy
● Website creation and messaging development
● Editorial writing and press/media outreach
● Community engagement and public speaking
● Grassroots campaign coordination
Outcome
Contributed to the successful passage of the Secondhand Smoke Control Ordinance (SHSCO), strengthening public health protections and demonstrating effective grassroots advocacy and messaging strategy.
Co-Led Smoke Free Burbank campaign to make Burbank a “Smoke Free" city with the successful passage of the Secondhand Smoke Control Ordinance) (SHSCO). Scope of work incl. public speaking & advocacy; website design, photography, video & updates; editorial, press & media. Featured stories in Los Angles Times, NBC4 L.A. News, and multiple awards for public health advocacy.
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release, 3 p.m. (PST).
Burbank moving forward with Public Smoking Ban
Burbank, February 1, 2007
The City of Burbank is moving forward with the draft of a formal Smoking Regulation Ordinance that will restrict smoking in the following public places:
- City Parks, including the Chandler Bikeway- Restaurant outdoor dining areas- Service lines, including ATM's, Valet parking, Transit stops, Movie lines - Building Entrances (distance to be determined)- Outdoor shopping areas including the Farmers Market- Downtown Burbank, Empire Center and Magnolia Park
The City Council directed Staff to come back with the draft ordinance at Tuesday night’s Council meeting, during which they also adopted a Tobacco Retail Licensing Ordinance (5-0 Vote).
During Council deliberations, Vice-Mayor Marsha Ramos expressed a strong desire to “take a bite at it now” in order to get something in place that would cover most of the problem areas in Burbank. Councilman Jef Vander Bought demonstrated the public’s overwhelming support for the measure by showing a 1" thick stack of emails he’d received in favor vs. 4 emails against, which appeared to quell attempts to slow down the process from two of his fellow Councilmen. Mayor Todd Campbell, a clean-air advocate, debunked several misleading statements made by Councilman Dr. David Gordon, including "no evidence of second-hand smoke being harmful" and an inappropriate comparison of second-hand smoke to barbeque smoke.
The ordinance still allows people to smoke in their homes and on sidewalks in residential areas. There will be designated smoking areas in the major retail shopping centers to provide a place where smokers can still take a puff without blowing smoke in the faces of the greater majority (adults & children) who don’t.
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“The Council’s actions sends a very clear message that we care about the health and quality of life of all Burbank residents and (their) children” said Eric Michael Cap, who along with Robert Phipps, has been lobbying the City to follow the footsteps of Santa Monica and Calabasas who adopted similar ordinances in 2006.
“All we want is clean air” says Phipps, a former smoker and cancer survivor who is also lobbying Sherman Oaks Galleria to create designated smoking areas.
Burbank is part of a growing group of cities taking unprecedented steps to protect their residents from the health dangers and nuisance of second-hand smoke. Cap sums up:
“I truly believe this landmark decision, combined with a Tobacco Retail Licensing Ordinance that will greatly reduce the illegal and immoral sale of cigarettes to minors, will have very positive impact in our community. In some cases those impacts will be life changing; people will live healthier and longer lives, especially those teens & adults who will be further discouraged from smoking”.
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For more information, please contact the following:
Eric Michael Cap – (818) 567-1911 – emc@goldstreet.net
Robert Phipps Esq. – (818) 497-1632 – cleanairaddict@yahoo.com
City Manager Mary Alvord – (818) 238-5800 - MAlvord@mail.ci.burbank.ca.us
Mayor Todd Campbell – tcampbell@cleanenergyfuels.com
Vice-Mayor Marcia Ramos - mramos@mail.ci.burbank.ca.us
Councilman Jef Vander Bought - jvanderborght@mail.ci.burbank.ca.us
Website: http://www.SmokeFreeBurbank.com
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NBC4 LA TV News Stories (2)
Featuring Eric Michael Cap (Story #2) from @ 4:11
Cheers!