City to Launch Campaign to Inform Public About New Smoking Ban in Manhattan Beach

From the city of Manhattan Beach:

On July 22nd, the City of Manhattan Beach will launch “Breathe Free MB,” a public education campaign to protect the community’s health and the environment by ensuring employees, residents and visitors can enjoy the city’s public places smoke-free.

The event will feature city leaders, organizations supporting the ordinance and volunteers who will help distribute informational materials to Manhattan Beach businesses. It will be the first in a series of educational efforts to ensure the public is aware of the City’s Smoke-Free Public Places ordinance. 

The new smoking ordinance goes into effect on July 18. The city is delaying enforcement of the ordinance until Aug. 18 to give the public time to become familiar with the new law. The media is invited to the launch of Breathe Free MB, which will kick off the 8-year anniversary celebration of the Manhattan Beach Farmers Market. Please see the above fact sheet for more information about the campaign. Following are the details about the July 22 event:

Speakers:            

• Manhattan Beach Mayor Amy Howorth
• Beach Cities Health District Chief Medical Officer Lisa M. Santora, MD, MPH
• Surfrider Foundation South Bay Chairperson Craig W. Cadwallader
• Manhattan Beach Downtown Business Association Executive Director Kelly Stroman

When: 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 22nd

Where: Manhattan Beach Farmers Market, Plaza located at the corner of 13th Street and Morningside Drive (adjacent to Metlox Plaza)

About the Smoke-Free Public Places Ordinance

Existing law already prohibited smoking at the beach, Pier, parks, restaurants, places of employment and many public areas. Manhattan Beach’s new ordinance expands these prohibitions to all public places to protect the public from second-hand smoke and reduce litter from cigarette debris. Beginning July 18, 2014, smoking cigarettes and e-cigarettes in Manhattan Beach will be limited to private residential property (other than those used as a child-care or healthcare facility subject to State licensing requirements), moving vehicles and up to 20% of the rooms in any hotel or motel that meets certain requirements. For more information, please visit www.citymb.info.