San Diego, CA

Opinion: Ending Sale of Addictive Flavored Tobacco Here Within Reach

Published

2 years ago

April 26, 2022

Opinion: Ending Sale of Addictive Flavored Tobacco Here Within Reach

Teen smoking e-cigarette — A teen secretly smoking an e-cigarette. Picture through Pixabay

An finish to the sale of flavored tobacco within the metropolis of San Diego is in attain, a lot to the reduction of college districts, youth-serving organizations, well being practitioners, and oldsters.

The SAAFE Act, launched by Councilmember Marni von Wilpert, will finish the sale of youth-targeted flavored vapes, flavored cigarillos, and menthol cigarettes if adopted. Hookah, premium flavored cigars, flavored loose-leaf tobacco, and non-flavored tobacco merchandise will stay on retailer cabinets.

The San Diego Metropolis Council will take up the ordinance on Monday, April 25, and observers anticipate an lively assembly.

The native tobacco trade’s lobbying arm, the Neighborhood Market Affiliation, has been vocal in opposition to the ordinance, as candy, fruity and minty flavors work to hook the subsequent technology of tobacco customers. They’ve beforehand cited analysis from a San Francisco examine, falsely indicating that eradicating flavored vapes from the retail setting pushes youth to make use of cigarettes as an alternative.

Jonathan Winickoff, director of pediatric analysis at Massachusetts Common Hospital’s distinguished Tobacco Analysis & Remedy Heart, reviewed the examine and disagrees. He notes that the examine was accomplished earlier than enforcement of San Francisco’s flavored tobacco ban had taken full impact — solely 17% of shops had been compliant on the time of the examine –- thus invalidating the evaluation.

Winickoff and his colleagues cite knowledge from Oakland that discovered common cigarette use decreased after flavored tobacco restrictions, and much more importantly, level to analysis demonstrating that whole tobacco use by younger individuals aged 18-24 decreased by practically 18% after San Francisco’s flavored tobacco gross sales restrictions.

Upon inspecting what’s driving increased vaping charges amongst youth, ending the sale of flavored tobacco is smart. Take into account the next info:

Flavors hook children. Younger individuals are naturally drawn to candy, fruity, minty flavors, and when an addictive substance like nicotine is masked in ardour fruit or bitter apple, it’s simpler for them to really feel snug experimenting.
The quantity of nicotine in every flavored vaping machine is the equal of 1 to 10 packs of cigarettes. It’s a very concentrated quantity of nicotine in every machine, and a few teenagers vape a complete e-cigarette every day, successfully consuming the identical quantity of nicotine in 20-200 cigarettes.
The adolescent mind is extra simply addicted than grownup brains as a result of it’s nonetheless creating.

These factors underscore why surveys present 4 in 10 highschool college students within the San Diego Unified Faculty District have vaped.

However when policymakers stand with educators and enact insurance policies that shield the psychological and bodily well being of scholars, our younger individuals have a greater probability of resisting the attract of flavored tobacco. The trustees of San Diego Unified, Sweetwater Union, and the San Diego County Board of Training have all handed resolutions in help of the SAAFE Act, asking San Diego and Chula Vista metropolis council members to handle the vaping epidemic sweeping college campuses by ending the sale of flavored tobacco merchandise.

These elected college board members perceive a easy however highly effective fact grounded in knowledge from the 110 California municipalities with flavored tobacco bans on the books: eradicating factors of entry to tobacco reduces the speed of youth use.

True to kind, the Neighborhood Market Affiliation’s commentary makes a second deceptive declare: when one metropolis ended flavored tobacco gross sales, neighboring cities noticed a rise within the sale of those merchandise.

Earlier than limiting tobacco purchases to clients over age of 21 grew to become federal regulation, many municipalities adopted this coverage as a neighborhood ordinance. Winickoff studied the consequences of accelerating the tobacco age to 21 in these cities and in contrast them to cities with out the elevated age requirement.

Because the “Tobacco 21” coverage gained nationwide momentum, Large Tobacco lobbyists offered the identical argument that the Neighborhood Market Affiliation is presenting now: Individuals will journey to different cities for tobacco. The analysis exhibits this buyer migration didn’t occur.

Actually, Winickoff and his colleagues discovered that the “Tobacco 21” coverage resulted in a 47% discount in highschool tobacco use, with no indication that youth had been touring to different cities to buy the merchandise.

Youth are usually not travelling throughout metropolis traces to buy flavored tobacco. Whereas neighboring cities may even see a slight uptick in gross sales, inside the metropolis limits of these municipalities the place flavored tobacco merchandise are banned, youth use drops.

This actuality validates the rationale of the SAAFE Act to maintain the addictive poison of flavored tobacco merchandise out of our youngsters’ lungs.

“It’s not rocket science; limiting flavored tobacco gross sales is an efficient technique to stop youth from initiating tobacco product use,” Winickoff mentioned.

However increasing the coverage lens past youth entry exhibits why flavored tobacco bans shield adults, too. It’s a proven fact that e-cigarette use causes irritation in a number of organ programs within the physique. Use additionally will increase anxiousness, impairs studying and reminiscence, and causes extreme lung harm and demise in some circumstances.

The aim of the SAAFE Act is to guard youth, communities of coloration, faculty college students, LGBTQ+ group members — in a phrase, everybody who’s focused by Large Tobacco’s predatory advertising ways.

The San Diego Metropolis Council has a possibility to guard our youth and communities from the poisonous brew of flavored nicotine-delivery merchandise.

Large Tobacco and the Neighborhood Market Affiliation might say in any other case, however historical past has proven what’s true: public well being improves when polices are adopted that scale back the hurt attributable to tobacco merchandise.

Who wouldn’t stand with San Diegans to champion wholesome, resilient communities? We’ll discover out when our elected metropolis council representatives solid their votes for or towards the SAAFE Act.

Cynthia Knapp is this system supervisor for the San Diego Smoke-Free Venture, a program of SAY San Diego. Jim Crittenden is coordinator of alcohol, tobacco, and different drug prevention for San Diego County Workplace of Training.

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San Diego, CA

First all-electric tugboat in U.S. christened on San Diego Bay

Published

5 hours ago

June 26, 2024

Press Room

First all-electric tugboat in U.S. christened on San Diego Bay

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — History was made today in San Diego. The first of its kind, all-electric tugboat, the eWolf, was officially christened on San Diego Bay Tuesday.

The eWolf will begin commercial service this week.

Instead of burning diesel fuel like other tugboats, the eWolf is the first all-electric powered harbor tugboat in the United States.

Operating with zero emissions and other sustainable technology, the eTug delivers high-power capability, safety and efficiency, the announcement said.

Maritime, energy and logistics solutions company, Crowley, christened the eWolf on Tuesday, June 25, 2024.

Built by Master Boat Builders in Coden, Ala., the 82-foot vessel delivers 70 tons of bollard pull, which is stronger than the traditional tugboat.

Unlike tugboats that burn diesel fuel, the eTug uses a more environmentally friendly and sustainable power source, which will be charged at a station on the shore.

The eWolf is not only a game changer in sustainability, it’s also the most advanced technologically. It features next generation radar, sonar, and more.

The goal — to reduce pollution and improve the air quality for San Diego.

In the first 10 years of its use, the eWolf will reduce 2.5 tons of diesel fuel pollution and 3,100 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) pollution compared to a conventional tugboat, according to Crowley.

Crowley was joined at the vessel christening by project partners including the Port of San Diego, San Diego County Air Pollution Control District, the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the U.S. EPA and the U.S. Maritime Administration.

“The eWolf is a historic milestone in the maritime industry and Crowley’s legacy, and underscores our company’s commitment to serve as global sustainability leaders and innovators. The all-electric tugboat is the most technologically advanced vessel of its kind, and eWolf will help our customers and communities reach their decarbonization goals while delivering capabilities that strengthen our vital supply chain,” said Tom Crowley, Chairman and CEO. “We congratulate the people whose tireless dedication brought the eWolf to fruition with our partners at the federal, state and local government, setting a new standard not just in America, but globally.”

At the christening, the vice president of Crowley said San Diego now has the most advanced and safest operating vessel ever built.

“Crowley’s first-of-its-kind electric tugboat is a game changer. It checks all the boxes by providing environmental, economic, and operational benefits for our communities and maritime industry,” said Frank Urtasun, Port of San Diego Chairman. “This is truly a story of teamwork and collaboration. We are proud to work with Crowley and our state and local partners on this and other electrification initiatives at and around our port, including electric cargo handling equipment like our all-electric mobile harbor cranes, our microgrid, vessel shore power, and more.”

The name was chosen as a nod to a tugboat in the company’s initial fleet, the Sea Wolf, which operated more than a century ago in California.

Dan Plante contributed to this report

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San Diego, CA

Your Guide to the Best Things in San Diego, 2024 | San Diego Magazine

Published

13 hours ago

June 25, 2024

Press Room

Your Guide to the Best Things in San Diego, 2024 | San Diego Magazine

By Danielle Allaire, Sara Clemence, Beth Demmon, Randy Dotinga, María José Durán, Leorah Gavidor, Cherie Gough, Mateo Hoke, Troy Johnson, Lili Kim, Marissa Kozma, Kai Oliver-kurtin, Nicolle Monico, Cole Novak, Amanda Parmele, Will Riddell, Amelia Rodriguez, Jay Smith, and Claire Trageser

A solar eclipse may have blocked out most of SD’s legendary sunlight a few months back, but our city is shining brighter than ever. Michelin bestowed a constellation of stars on our always-innovative food scene.

The city’s sports fever heated up, drawing two more pro teams to the landscape. Locals joined hands to pull a few beloved institutions from the brink (see Coop’s and The Harp). A mega revamp of a particular iconic North Park hotel beckoned hordes of visitors—and a gazillion international eyes. Even orcas want to live here.

And when disaster struck—catastrophic flooding, especially in the county’s most under-resourced areas—San Diegans came together to save and rebuild the lives of those impacted. Courageous residents helped rescue grandmas. GoFundMes got funded. Volunteers scooped away water and cleared debris.

Then, we kept pushing this place forward, creating community and starting small businesses and making more and more cool things. Here are over 100 of the coolest of them. Check ’em out, then go forth and make your own list. Or start your own thing. This town’s big enough for all of us.

Courtesy of the Gaslamplighter

Best Upgraded Take on Your Fave Dive

Gaslamplighter

Gaslamplighter is more than a glammed-up karaoke palace with a not-hyped-enough burger (a double-stack of juicy Wagyu beef served in a O’Brien’s strikes again. One of the Louis Vuitton knockoff). It’s a fifth-generation San Diego success story. Owner Frankie Scuito’s great-great-great grandparents opened San Diego’s first first deli with a liquor license, and his uncle and dad brought us the dark, cozy karaoke icon The Lamplighter. For the sister concept, Scuito and his brother put in ultra-upscale roaring-’20s décor, enlisted the city’s top cocktail minds, and garnered all the Gloria.

San Diego Futbol Club soccer player standing on Snapdragon Stadium ahead of their inaugural 2025 season in the MLS — Courtesy of San Diego FC

Best Team That Hasn’t Won A Single Game… Yet

San Diego FC

Soccer and San Diego are pretty tight right now. That bond will continue to grow when San Diego FC joins MLS in 2025 as the league’s 30th team. The club will look to cultivate homegrown talent like local teenage goalkeeper Duran Ferree) and give San Diego its first major sports championship since 1963. Oh, and one more thing: The Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, a part-owner of the club, is now just the second Native American tribe in the country to have an ownership stake in a pro sports team.

Best of San Diego 2024 featuring an aerial view of the $1 Billion Chula Vista Bayfront Project — Photo Credit: Cole Novak

Best Bay-utification

Don’t get us wrong—roadwork and city renovations aren’t always our idea of positive news (especially when they add 15 minutes to our commute to work). But this $1.2 billion bayside project in Chula Vista is promising to be worth leaving the house a little earlier. Scheduled for completion in 2025, the redevelopment will include a new park, resort, convention center, RV resort, and residential area, creating space for locals and visitors to enjoy Chula Vista to the fullest.

Best Postpartum Power-lift

Fit4Mom

Held outdoors in the fresh air, Fit4Mom’s stroller-based classes incorporate resistance bands and structures like stairs, curbs, and walls to get mamas moving. Headquartered in San Diego, the fitness company has eight franchise locations across the county and more than 250 nationwide. Especially popular among new mothers on maternity leave and stay-at-home parents with young kids, Fit4Mom is a great avenue to make mom friends, seek parenting advice, and ease back into exercise postpartum.

Best Day in the Dirt

Coastal Roots Farm

Everyone needs to get their hands dirty sometimes. Thursday, Friday, and Sunday mornings, parents cart their little ones to Coastal Roots nonprofit Jewish community farm in Encinitas for Nature Play. Designed for kids ages zero to 10 and their families, the program is run by farm staff, who oversee interactive storytime, animal encounters like feeding chickens, and other sensory activities, including play in the outdoor “kitchens.” Afterward, stop by their pay-what-you-can farm stand (those in need can get up to $30 of produce free) to take home organic veggies and herbs.

Best of San Diego 2024 Reader's Picks featuring the Little Italy farmer's market — Courtesy of Little Italy Mercado

See our reader’s top picks across the city

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San Diego, CA

Moose Toys Heads to San Diego Comic-Con with MrBeast Lab Exclusives

Published

20 hours ago

June 25, 2024

Press Room

Moose Toys Heads to San Diego Comic-Con with MrBeast Lab Exclusives

Moose Toys, a leading innovator in the toy industry, revealed their new collaboration with MrBeast, also known as Jimmy Donaldson — the world’s most subscribed YouTuber and a dedicated philanthropist. The new line, MrBeast Lab, includes a range of small-scale collectibles along with action, vinyl, and collector’s figures. It is set to hit the U.S. market in July and expand globally through the fall, but attendees at San Diego Comic-Con will be able to get their hands on a SDCC exclusive, as well as limited edition items.

You can find Moose Toys at San Diego Comic-Con Booth #301, where they’ll be offering two MrBeast Lab items. The first is a 3.5″ tall San Diego Comic-Con exclusive MrBeast Lab Fuzzy Panther Vinyl Figure, which features a unique flocked texture, defined detailing, and display-ready packaging. It is limited to 3000, and will be available for $14.99.

The second item is a MrBeast Lab Alpha Panther Mutator, a limited-edition figure featuring an exclusive blue chrome finish, glow-in-the-dark crystals, and more than 20 points of articulation. The 5.5″ figure is part of the recent launch of MrBeast Lab Mutators, “the wildest experiment from the world of MrBeast Lab”, but it stands apart from the other figures in the line. This iteration was designed and styled to represent MrBeast’s iconic panther logo, and has a “completely new and elevated unboxing experience” in which the premium packaging touts “restricted access”. Fans will have to remove an exterior sleeve before unfolding the lab-themed box to unveil the limited edition Alpha Panther inside. Pick it up for $29.99 at San Diego Comic-Con and Walmart Collector Con only.