Tobacco Free Coalition for Tulsa County Hosts Legislative Event with Local Elected Officials
TULSA, OK – [March 11, 2013] – The Tobacco Free Coalition for Tulsa County in partnership with the Tulsa Health Department and the Oklahoma City-County Health Department is hosting a legislative event to inform local elected officials that restoring local rights to Oklahoma communities is critical to becoming a healthier city and state.
Internal tobacco industry documents show that several Oklahoma communities began to adopt ordinances to restrict smoking in public places in 1986. Tobacco companies became interested in preventing local action and in controlling all public policy on tobacco issues at the state level.
In 1987 and 1994, tobacco industry lobbyists at the Oklahoma State Capitol were successful in advocating for special “preemption” clauses to be placed in state tobacco laws, which took away the rights of Oklahoma communities to adopt or enforce any tobacco‐related ordinances more stringent than state law.
Oklahomans deserve to have their local rights restored in order to increase economic development within their communities through the development of a healthier workforce to be able to better compete with cities in other states.
The event is open to the public and members of the media are welcome. We request your attendance to learn what grassroots efforts are underway and what local elected officials and city administrators can do to restore local rights to Oklahoma communities.
What: An Evening of Expressions: Conversations with Our Local Elected Officials
When: Tuesday, March 12 at 7 p.m.
Where: The Vault Restaurant, 620 S. Cincinnati (downtown Tulsa)
Presenters: Tulsa Health Department Director Bruce Dart, Ph.D.
Oklahoma City-County Health Department Director Gary Cox, J.D.
City of Sand Springs Vice-Mayor Michael Phillips
City of Collinsville City Manager Pam Polk
RSVP: Please RSVP to 918-595-4226 or vhharper@tulsa-health.org.
