Mayor Ras J. Baraka signed into law a municipal ordinance that bans smoking within municipal parks and recreation facilities and within 50 feet of a municipal building's entrance, exit, windows, or ventilators, yesterday, at Kasberger Field, in the City's West Ward. At the ceremony, he was joined by the Municipal Council sponsors of the legislation, North Ward Council Member Anibal Ramos, Jr., and Council Member-at-Large Carlos M. Gonzalez, community members, and tobacco-free activists. The ordinance also includes electronic smoking devices such as e-cigarettes, vape pens and hookah pens, which have becoming increasingly popular in recent years. This year, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found an alarming increase in e-cigarette use by youth. In 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found toxins and carcinogens in tested electronic cigarettes. Since then, many studies have shown health concerns with using and being exposed to electronic vapor smoke, which contains toxins including nicotine.
"I am proud to join with our Municipal Council and administration to reduce the tragedy caused by second-hand smoking, by making it illegal in our parks, recreation centers, and around our municipal buildings," said Mayor Baraka. New Jersey became the first state in 2010 to ban the use of electronic smoking devices inside public places and workplaces. New Jersey also bans the sale and giving of tobacco and electronic smoking devices to persons under age 19. "It's important to help our youth not become addicted to nicotine and smoking," Council Member Gonzalez said. "We need to treat them just as we would treat conventional cigarettes."