Teen tobacco use

Dear Editor:Downey is getting rid of medical marijuana dispensaries and replacing them with hookah lounges. One smoking addiction for another. The front page picture on the July 7 issue glamorizes teen tobacco use. What age is attracted to smoking bubblegum-flavored tobacco? Should the Middle East and South Asia be convincing our teens to use hookah when they use children for suicide bombs and treat children with less regard than dogs in "Slumdog Millionaire"? What happened to the campaign to stop teen tobacco use? It's alright with the gentleman in City Hall who spoke to Loretta Scott (Letters to the Editor, 7/21/11) that the Pied Piper depends on a hookah. Is he really telling us that we should follow San Francisco's example? Is lung cancer or emphysema what he wants for his children and grandchildren's future? Is this the length the city of Downey will go to to bring in more business tax? If the "line of no crossing" doesn't stop in front of our children, is there a line at all? -- El Bee, Downey

Dear Editor: I was mortified when I‚Äàsaw the photo on your front page (July 7) depicting a young woman smoking at a hookah lounge. Is this the example we want to be sending to our children? Whether you call it a hookah lounge, hookah bar, cigar lounge, whatever, the fact is these businesses make their money by providing tobacco to older teens and young adults. And the city, apparently, is OK with it. In the name of "revitalizing" our downtown, can we soon expect tattoo parlors and "gentlemen" clubs? I don't consider myself a prude, but the city should not be taking pride in marketing tobacco use to teens. We don't need the tax revenue that bad. -- MaryAnn Blythe, Downey

********** Published: July 28, 2011 - Volume 10 - Issue 15