Bravo for Schenectady parks’ tobacco ban

Monday, April 26, 2010
Letter to the Editor
Daily Gazette

Re April 21 article, “City’s smoking ban to widen”: What a wonderful way to celebrate Earth Day: clean, smoke-free playgrounds, pavilions and ball fields for Schenectady’s children!

I applaud the city council’s approval of the tobacco ban in these shared outdoor spaces. This action speaks to the city’s dedication to the health and well-being of its youth and their families.

According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 50,000 Americans die each year from lung cancer and heart disease attributable to secondhand smoke. Children are especially vulnerable. The U.S. Surgeon General reports that children exposed to secondhand smoke are at an increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), acute respiratory infections, ear problems and more severe asthma.

Schenectady City Council took a bold, positive action that will promote a healthy, tobacco-free lifestyle for future generations.

Deya Greer

Albany