Glendale was the only city in Los Angeles County to receive an A last year in the association’s report card, which assigns grades to counties and cities based on their tobacco control laws.
“There is no doubt that cities like Glendale are among the leaders in showing other cities what can be done to truly make an impact on the deadliest effects of tobacco,” said Jane Warner, chief executive of the California American Lung Assn. “We are especially excited about cities like Glendale, who take the steps that are required to make a difference as it relates to protecting their local citizens from secondhand smoke.”
Burbank, which was once ranked ahead of Glendale in terms of smoking restrictions, received an overall grade of B.
Contributing to Glendale’s top overall grade was the A it scored for smoke-free outdoor air efforts.
But for smoke-free housing — a contentious issue among renters who say smoking neighbors cause a nuisance and health hazard with drifting secondhand smoke — Glendale received a B.
To improve its grade in the smoke-free housing category, Warner said Glendale could follow the city of Richmond’s lead in banning smoking in all multifamily residential units, including town homes, condominiums and apartments.
Councilman Dave Weaver said Glendale’s overall A rating was “a good start,” but thought the city should create some restrictions for smoking in apartments and condominiums.
“I am very happy about the ranking, but we’ve got to do more,” he said.
Glendale is looking at revising its ordinance in that category, but restrictions like those in Richmond aren’t yet on the table, said Sam Engel, the city’s Neighborhood Services administrator.
