Smoking, vaping, chewing could be banned - CT Post

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Matthew Edo, a sixth ward alderman in Ansonia less

Matthew Edo, a sixth ward alderman in Ansonia

Photo: Christian Abraham / Christian Abraham
Mayor David S. Cassetti standing and Corporation Counsel John P. Marini at a recent Board of Alderman meeting at Ansonia City Hall less

Mayor David S. Cassetti standing and Corporation Counsel John P. Marini at a recent Board of Alderman meeting at Ansonia City Hall

Photo: Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media
Joan Radin, a fifth ward alderwoman, pharmacist and owner of Lear Pharmacy at 198 Wakelee Ave. in Ansonia less

Joan Radin, a fifth ward alderwoman, pharmacist and owner of Lear Pharmacy at 198 Wakelee Ave. in Ansonia

Photo: Autumn Driscoll / Autumn Driscoll
The Ansonia Board of Aldermen banned smoking and chewing tobacco from its parks, recreation sites and school grounds. less

The Ansonia Board of Aldermen banned smoking and chewing tobacco from its parks, recreation sites and school grounds.

Photo: Hearst Connecticut Media / File Photo
The local ordinance introduced by Alderman Matthew Edo calls for a $50 fine for anyone convicted of caught smoking, chewing or vaping in Ansonia parks, recreation sites or school grounds.. less

The local ordinance introduced by Alderman Matthew Edo calls for a $50 fine for anyone convicted of caught smoking, chewing or vaping in Ansonia parks, recreation sites or school grounds..

Photo: File Photo / Hearst Connecticut Media

Smoking, vaping, chewing could be banned

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ANSONIA — No more smoking, chawing or vaping in the city’s parks or recreation sites, if a proposed ordinance is approved later this month.

Joan Radin, a fifth ward alderwoman and local pharmacist, made sure vaping was added to the substances the Board of Aldermen is considering banning.

“It’s become prevalent among youths, especially in our high schools,” said Radin, who is the proprietor of the century-old Lear Pharmacy on Wakelee Avenue.

Both Matthew Edo, a sixth ward alderman who chairs the Ordinance committee and John P. Marini, the city’s corporation counsel anticipate that the Aldermen will approve the regulation later this month.

Vaping involves the use of e-cigarettes or flask-like devices that heat water-flavored liquids referred to as juice. Sometimes these juices include various levels of nicotine.

Once heated, the vapor is inhaled into the lungs and then is exhaled in a fragrant plume. Radin believes the cloud may contain substances more potent than just water vapor.

A study conducted by the Center for Environmental Health found 97 e-cigarettes and vaping products had high levels of formaldehyde and acetalehyde —both cancer-causing agents.

Sources said several Valley schools now require students to get a pass and a key to use the bathroom because of the popularity of vaping.

That would coincide with a Center for Disease Control and Prevention study which found vaping tripled among middle school and high school students.

The National Youth Tobacco Survey determined that the number of students vaping at least once in the past 30 days went from 4.5 percent to 13.4 percent from 2013-14 among high school students, and from 1.1 to 3.9 percent among middle school students.

Rampant vaping

Even Edo said he has seen more vaping among teens at the Little League and Travel team games he coaches in the past year.

“Who knows what chemicals are put in there?” he said.

Edo said he approached Marini about banning tobacco products four months ago.

“Parents were smoking at the fence right near our dugouts of the Little League field,” he said. “Their smoke was blowing toward the kids.“

He said some parents became upset when told to smoke away from the kids.

“I’m a smoker. I smoke a cigar a day,” he said. “But I can give it up for two or four hours.”

The Ansonia ordinance is stricter than Bridgeport’s, which in October banned only smoking tobacco and combustible products from its sports fields, parks and beaches. It made no mention of chewing tobacco and vaping.

Bridgeport’s law does carry a heftier $100 fine; Ansonia proposes $50.

Both Radin and Mayor David Cassetti concede the ordinance will be difficult to enforce.

“We have 43 police officers. I don’t think they have the time to actively enforce it,” Casetti said.

It was not known if anyone has been cited in Bridgeport.

The Ansonia ordinance permits -- but does not oblige — the city to establish designated smoking areas at park facilities or on school grounds.

“If it’s passed we will post signs notifying the public these substances are prohibited,” said Marini, Ansonia’s corporation counsel. “It’s also possible we may designate a certain area of Nolan Field (where the high school plays its football and baseball games) away from the public where smoking is allowed.”

Chewing and spitting

Edo said tobacco chewing is more of a problem during football games.

The ordinance also noted that “tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death and disease in the United States.”

It points out that second-hand smoke causes an increased risk for asthma, heart disease and lung cancer, while spittle from chewing tobacco exposes non-users to bacteria and viruses.

“Tobacco use in and around these recreational facilities creates the contradictory message of young people being encouraged and coached by adults to engage in healthy activities while at the same time being exposed to adults and older youths using tobacco products which cause adverse health effects…”

The smoking ban was only one of several ordinances being considered by the Aldermen.

Also carrying a $50 penalty is a proposed law banning domestic animals, either leashed or unleashed, attended or unattended, from the playing surfaces of the city’s athletic fields.

The ban does not apply to playgrounds or spectator areas.

There will be a joint meeting between the Ordinance Committee, members of the Recreation Commission and Police Chief Kevin Hale on Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. in the aldermanic chambers. The public is invited.

 

They could as well ban breathing. I don't see any problem with vaping but if it that statute could only be applied at parks, I have no problem with it.