City Thanks Volunteers for Helping Celebrate Great American Smoke-Out

From the City of Alameda:

On Saturday, Nov. 17, two dozen Alameda residents, including students from Wood Middle and Encinal High School, visited merchants and offered to post no-smoking signs in their windows as part of the Great American Smokeout.

Volunteers also placed no-smoking stickers in several areas of the public right-of-way, such as: on parking kiosks, bus shelters, garbage cans, and light poles.

Over 300 signs were posted on Park Street and along several of the side streets including Central and Santa Clara Avenue. 

The vast majority of merchants enthusiastically allowed the volunteers to place the stickers in their storefront windows. Merchants and pedestrians were also given information on smoking cessation when requested.

The City would like to thank the volunteers for their help in educating the community. While the No Smoking law has been in effect since the beginning of the year, it takes time for smokers to learn the new habit of not smoking in public areas. 

In the coming year the City will seek additional grant funding for permanent signage in retail areas. 

Similar awareness campaigns are planned for Webster Street and Southshore. 

Those interested in supporting the effort can contact Serena Chen from the American Lung Association at serena.chen@lung.org