Healthy King County Coalition invites you to Saving Lives: Commercial Tobacco Policy for Health Equity, a conversation about innovative policy strategies to address equity and safety in Commercial Tobacco prevention, control and enforcement.

Despite an overall decline in the prevalence of combustible tobacco use, we are facing a youth vaping epidemic, and the disparities of use among BIPOC and LGBTQ individuals remain.  The laws, policies, and resources that are intended to reduce tobacco use and tobacco-related harm are not reaching those who are impacted the most.

The COVID-19 pandemic has only amplified the underlying health inequities and systemic racism has been impacting Black and Brown communities, including those who are LGBTQ, for hundreds of years.

SPEAKERS

Phillip S. Gardiner, DrPH, African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council

A public health activist, administrator, evaluator and researcher. For the past 25 years, he has worked on studies ranging from Multiculturalism to Smoking. He lectures across the country on African American health disparities and the impact of menthol smoking on the Black community.

Sen. Rebecca Saldaña, 37th District State Senator

Saldaña lives in SE Seattle and is a tireless advocate for equity and social justice. Her bill Substitute Senate Bill 6489 would remove penalties and prevent law enforcement from detaining or questioning youth related to tobacco use or possession.

Rep. Gerry Pollet, 46th Legislative District Representative

After law school, he chose a career as a public interest attorney protecting our environment, children, consumers, and promoting open government. Gerry worked on the first legislation in the nation to prevent youth use of e-cigarettes and “vape” products and provide state oversight of toxic chemicals in the products.

Sen. Patty Kuderer, 48th District State Senator

Patty is a mom, attorney, and long-time community advocate. She was first appointed to the House of Representatives in September of 2015 and won her first election to retain the seat the following year. In January 2017, Patty was again unanimously appointed by the King County Council to fill the vacant Senate seat in the 48th Legislative District. She now represents her constituents as their first female state Senator.

*Sponsored by Healthy King County Coalition