Support the City of Los Angeles’ flavored tobacco ordinance
Please contact the office of LA City Council Member Herb J. Wesson Jr., City Council District 10, to urge support for the City of Los Angeles’ flavored tobacco ordinance with NO exemptions for menthol cigarettes or hookah.
We suggest a phone call, followed by an email. Below is a suggested phone script, as well as an email template, with key points to be included. The scripts are also available here as a PDF to download and print.
Los Angeles City Council Member Herb J. Wesson Jr.
Outreach Instructions
Thank you for taking a few minutes to contact the office of LA City Council Member Herb J. Wesson Jr. (City Council District 10). The council member needs to be informed about the critical need to end the sale of flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes in the City of Los Angeles. Please contact the council member via phone at (213) 473-7010. Provide your name and organization, and remember to thank the office for their time. Follow up your phone call with an email, councilmember.wesson@lacity.org
SAMPLE PHONE SCRIPT
Below you will find a sample script with key points to include in your phone call.
“Hello, my name is ______________and I’m a student/parent/ teacher/ doctor/ etc. and a member of L.A. Families Fighting Flavored Tobacco. I’m calling to urge the Council Member to support the City’s flavored tobacco ordinance with NO exemptions for menthol cigarettes or hookah.
(Share your personal story of why this issue is important to you. Also select one of the facts below to share.)
Give the current health pandemic, local leaders are being asked to do everything in their power to protect residents against Coronavirus (COVID-19). Smoking cigarettes and vaping weakens the lungs, Coronavirus (COVID-19) attacks the lungs. Now is the time for you to implement strong tobacco control measures, especially actions to protect kids by ending the sale of flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes and hookah.
The tobacco industry targets menthol advertising at young people. Of young people (12-17 years old) who smoke, 57% smoke menthols. This is a direct result of the industry’s predatory marketing practices.
Decades of predatory marketing practices have led to 85% of African American smokers using menthol flavored tobacco. Today, African Americans suffer the highest rate of tobacco-related mortality of any racial or ethnic group in the United States.
We hope the Council Member will stand with parents, students, community leaders, and health professionals to protect all L.A. families and youth from Big Tobacco.
Thanks for your time.”
EMAIL TEMPLATE
Once you have made your phone call please follow up with an email. Below is a sample template:
“Dear Council Member Wesson,
My name is ______________and I’m a student/parent/ teacher/ doctor/ etc. and a member of L.A. Families Fighting Flavored Tobacco. I just called your office and left an important message asking you to support the proposed flavored tobacco ordinance with NO exemptions for menthol cigarettes or hookah.
(Share your personal story of why this issue is important to you)
I hope that you will stand with parents, students, community leaders, and health professionals to protect all L.A. families and youth from Big Tobacco.
Thank you.”