The SOL Project, Saving Our Legacy, African Americans for smoke-free, safe places is working to reduce tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure among African Americans as well as all communities in Sacramento and San Joaquin Counties. 

     Nearly 1 out of every 3 African American adults in these areas currently smoke cigarettes. Smoking causes cancer, heart disease, stroke and asthma. Smoke from cigarettes, also called secondhand smoke, is a toxic air contaminant with no safe level of exposure--even in outdoor areas. Secondhand smoke also causes these same diseases in nonsmokers. 

     Not only is the smoke toxic, but so are the cigarette butts. In fact, if cigarette butts end up in storm drains and eventually the river, they will contaminate our water! One cigarette butt per quart of water has enough poison to kill 50 fish! Cigarette butts are the most littered debris and because they are made of plastic, they take 25 years to decompose! So when someone litters their cigarette butts, that's 25 years of toxic waste in our streets, sewers, water!

     SOL is working to rid outdoor areas of tobacco smoke and cigarette butts. These areas are currently outdoor dining, bus stops and lightrail stations. While smoking is prohibited in enclosed bus stops and lightrail stations, there is still a lot of smoking and tobacco smoke exposure at all the other bus stops and lightrail stations. 

     Therefore, we the undersigned support the SOL Project's work to eliminate tobacco smoke in outdoor dining areas, bus stops and light rail stations!