Support tobacco-free parks in Auburn

The Cayuga County Tobacco Free Partnership is part of a New York statewide program working to prevent and reduce tobacco use to improve the health of New Yorkers. This is a statewide program that is working towards creating healthy environments for all community members. Many individuals will be opposed to these efforts but honestly, if each individual would look at the entire picture and see what the overall purpose truly is, you might feel differently.

The Auburn City Council proposed a ban on all city parks to alleviate smoking within the vicinity to create “smoke free parks and playgrounds.” In all reality, doesn't everyone want a safe and healthy environment for their family and children to enjoy? Outdoor parks and playgrounds were built for families and children of all ages to have a safe environment for physical activity and enjoyment.

“The New York Tobacco Control Program and its partners work to protect children from tobacco use and to help adult smokers quit. Reducing tobacco use is an effective investment in New York's future.” — state Department of Health.
Overall this initiative is the sole purpose of creating a healthier environment for all residents.
In a recent article in The Citizen, “Central NY smoking rate tops national average,” the central New York region has the second highest smoking rate among adults in the five regions in upstate New York. Why is this?

As a community we need to work together more as a whole and work to improve the environment around us. Alcoholic beverages are not allowed to be consumed while your children are playing on the playground, why is it difficult to understand that smoking shouldn’t be acceptable either? Why subject the younger generation to addictions that so many are trying to get over?

Overall, the message here is, the Cayuga County Tobacco Free Partnership Program and the NY State Tobacco Control program is designed to create effective messages to diminish the acceptability of this deadly habit and build a healthier environment for all of us to live, work and play in. Be supportive. Our community needs a change.