As the current President of the GCCA, I had the honor of introducing guests at our bi-annual community meeting. Shando and I had to leave for a red-eye to Ohio that evening, but I was glad that I could squeeze the meeting in.
Our focus for this meeting was the importance of evacuation, especially in the case of a wildfire, which is unfortunately common in this area. We are very fortunate that GCCA was instrumental in getting Fire Station 26 re-opened here in Vallejo. They were in attendance and helped to bring awareness to the AlertSolano.com website.
I keep crying every time I think about this little boy who had to keep his hands on his face in utter grief of losing his dad to a racist loser (redundant, I know). Musket rights are the most misunderstood and most unjustifiably protected part of the US Constitution to everyone’s detriment. The impending Roe v. Wade reversal opinion talks about abortion not being mentioned in the U.S. Constitution. Talk about things NOT mentioned explicitly? Semi-automatic guns or high-capacity cartridges.
JAQUES “JAKE” PATTERSON – Tirzah Patterson, former wife of Buffalo shooting victim Heyward Patterson, speaks as her son, Jaques “Jake” Patterson, 12, covers his face during a press conference outside on Thursday, May 19, 2022, in Buffalo, N.Y.
Updated May 5, 2022: The Times-Herald published my opinion piece on May 4, 2022. I spoke at the City Council meeting twice on this subject, after many meetings with a coalition of organizations including LGBTQ Minus Tobacco, and the Vice-Mayor Verder-Aliga (center), who we took a selfie with below, together with my fellow activist at Bay Area Community Resources, Calyn Kelley.
Video of our appearances in person a this City Council meeting is available here, together with the cannabis lobby’s plant:
My Op-Ed letter is here:
Smoke-free buildings with multiple residences are not only a public health issue, but a social justice issue.
The Vallejo City Council is considering a smoke-free multi-unit housing ordinance, like many others that are well established in jurisdictions all around California and the Bay Area, including Benicia. Vallejo’s youth deserve the same quality air in their homes as kids in other jurisdictions, particularly in the era of Covid and wildfires, when we have enough environmental challenges damaging the respiratory systems of our child and adult neighbors, many of whom are non-ambulatory, immune-compromised, underinsured or already have chronic conditions like asthma and lung infections. Some of these youth spoke compellingly at the last Vallejo City Council meeting.
Other speakers, some of whom represented cannabis businesses, expressed concern that not exempting cannabis in the ordinance would prohibit medical marijuana consumption in one’s home. They also claimed cannabis smoke was not harmful. The data shows otherwise. See https://no-smoke.org/secondhand-marijuana-smoke-fact-sheet
As a strong supporter of cannabis decriminalization since the early 1990s, before I entered law school, I knew prohibition was futile. I was also appalled at the imprisonment of so many for non-violent crimes. I have not changed my mind about that, even though I did also have a mission to fight Big Tobacco’s marketing to kids. Now, to fight this ordinance, lobbying groups insist that there is only one way to ingest cannabis, which is by igniting it. I even heard arguments that it was just too expensive or an insufficient dosage to use edibles. How about trying a new recipe?
These ordinances are not about taking the right of recreational or medicinal cannabis away from those in multi-unit housing and it has nothing to do with single-family homes, despite the implication. All that is being asked is that common courtesy for one’s adjoining neighbors be respected. That means choosing options that don’t harm the health of others. In addition to edibles, there are cannabis inhalers that deliver a measured dose of medicine to the lungs without emitting smoke or a vape aerosol.
Smoke is smoke. Up to 65% of air in an apartment can come from other units. Carcinogenic smoke drifting through pipes and electric sockets, not to mention through windows from balconies is what this ordinance is really about. To those who say “close a window” or “go somewhere else” when victims are sitting in their own homes, not everyone has the resources to pick up and move to a single-family dwelling on a moment’s notice when they are subjected to this kind of environment 8-24 hours a day. Victims should not have the burden of proving the source of smoke. This is all besides the fact that the use of combustible products contributes to countless fires that don’t just threaten one’s own home in the case of multi-unit housing, but all of those adjoined as well. I grew up in apartments where my family had to evacuate buildings we lived in because of fires caused by smokers in adjoining units. So yes, this is personal.
Another great way to protect people from secondhand smoke is to reduce smoking rates altogether by preventing youth from getting addicted in the first place. Holding retailers accountable who sell flavored tobacco and vape devices to kids would help immensely, as would raising minimum prices for tobacco.
It is wrong to allow smoking neighbors in connected units to compromise the health of others. I urge Councilmembers to consider being on the right side of history by voting yes with no exemptions on the smokefree multi-unit housing ordinance.
I had spoken at least a few times remotely due to Covid restrictions but today makes the first in-person advocacy I did in front of the Vallejo City Council. I’m pleased to be working with LGBTQ Minus Tobacco in fighting for Vallejo to adopt a Smokefree Multi-Unit Housing Ordinance like our Solano County neighbor to the East, Benicia, and many other San Francisco Bay Area jurisdictions already have.
I find it particularly interesting that I accidentally shot the “No Smoking” decal on the door when I took this selfie, without even realizing it. I have the video of my speech available and had my daughter watch it. She and my husband were very proud. I’m sure I’ll be back to speak at City Council regularly, but so hoping this ordinance passes for the betterment of my city.
One of the joys of being on the Board and the current President of the Glen Cove Community Association is what we can do for our neighborhood, which constitutes about 10% of Vallejo. The only school in Glen Cove is our elementary school, so we pay particular attention to the safety and needs of the students there. Our Board works to make sure that the dismissal and drop-off of children, even during the pandemic, was done as safely as possible, and we ask our membership each year when they renew if they would consider chipping in a little extra for the school specifically. Because of this, we always have a budget that allows us to contribute toward the school. We ask the principal and the PTA each year what they need most. This year we provided an audio system with a microphone and colorful laptop trays for the students, among other things. VCUSD and GCCA board member John Fox joined me as we present the gifts to Principal Christine Lucero. Our local newspaper also picked up the story.
Children were omitted from the picture for their privacy.
This fire was probably another person flicking a cigarette after coming over the bridge into the hillside that seems to catch on fire very regularly. Fortunately, it did not get too close to homes and no one was hurt before a number of fire stations put it out. Regardless, we’re very happy that Glen Cove got its own Fire Station #26 back, in large part due to the work of the Glen Cove Community Association.
Meanwhile the SAME DAY in Benicia there was another fire that I could see from the Glen Cove Waterfront Park.
Chris, Tom, Bryan, Matt in back row from left to right. Mimi, me, John and Shando in foreground.
Had a great time checking out the Vallejo Maritime Historical Museum for the first time. That building used to be Vallejo City Hall. It was also good to contribute to a good cause like this. Tom Bilbo organized “Seven Seamen and a Little Lady” for our trivia team. We had Greek food and lots of laughs.
I was made aware by a friend that there was a movement to do something, so I wrote Vallejo City Council on this as well:
Dear Mayor and City Council –
I’m a resident of Vallejo who, like many, is enamored with how diverse our community is.
The Americans with Disabilities Act requires that a qualified sign language interpreter be available to deaf individuals upon request. I want to add to the chorus of hearing allies that all Vallejo City Council meetings be ASL-interpreted going forward. Deaf citizens of Vallejo shouldn’t have to ask every two weeks for their rights to be respected. They are part of our community, and we all benefit by their being included. Zoom captions alone are insufficient, particularly as we return to in-person meetings. Having accommodations for other languages is helpful, but the distinction is that languages can be learned; a deaf person cannot learn to hear. I hope we can prevent our fellow deaf community members from being excluded in our city’s gatherings going forward.
The Santa photo days were a big success at the Vallejo Farmer’s Market. This was a fundraiser for the Humane Society of the North Bay. Many of you know I’m on the Board of Directors. I share the mission to improve the lives of our area’s homeless cats and dogs. Interested in volunteering, adopting, donating, or fostering? Make sure to check out our site at HSNB.org!
