The Central Valley has scored poorly on it's smoke-free policies, or lack thereof, within cities and counties. This is according to an annual report released by the American Lung Association.
From Fresno to Tulare and back up to Merced, smoke free policies across the Central Valley are failing to make the grade.
Melanie Ruvalcaba, American Lung Association, says "I'm disappointed in the results because we do work really hard. The local partners work really hard to try and get those grades higher."
The latest report card from the American Lung Association shows "F's" across the board. Scores are based on three areas. Smoke-free outdoor air, smoke-free housing, and efforts to reduce tobacco sales.
"In the county of Fresno, there are two cities only two cities that do not have an F. Firebaugh has a C and Parlier has a D."
Fresno did earn some points for it's smoke-free park ordinance, but the report didn't include voluntary policies. Some apartment complexes and malls like Fashion Fair and River Park, have already banned smoking in certain areas.
Fresno County Tobacco Prevention director Leila Eha says, "The unfortunate thing with the voluntarily policies is it's not widespread so you get only segments of the population that might be protected from second hand smoke."
The hard part is pushing those changes citywide.
"Elected officials and local community leaders have to be the ones to make policy change," says Eha.
Some want to see more of a crack down on lighting up.
Sal Gomez says, "At restaurants they're allowing people to smoke just outside the doors, and as you go outside you can smell the smoke. Then as they go back in to eat with you, you can smell the smoke. It's kind of rough."
Smokers say they already have enough rules to abide by.
Karinn Abruagh says, "I feel like I'm annihilated, like I'm frowned upon because I am a smoker. I think it's unfair that we have to stay away like we're lepers or something."
Smoke-free advocates say until the Valley gets it's grades up, they won't give up.
The city of Firebaugh received a "C" on this report. That's the highest grade of any city in the Valley, and it's because it has four smoke-free ordinances in place. Many other cities in the valley don't have any.
TXT 24
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