IGM AG Advisers introduced to legislation to eliminate smokeless tobacco use in all baseball venues in the city

Councilman Jose Huizar announced plans Tuesday morning, June 9,  to introduce legislation to eliminate smokeless tobacco use — by players and spectators alike — at all baseball venues in the city.  IGM AG Advisers, Robert Donin,  IGM Art Gallery Policy Committee Chair, Steven Gallegos, IGM AG Adviser, and Gaston Mantero, IGM AG Performance Producer, discussed the announcement with Martin Schlageter, Policy Director to Council Member Jose Huizar.

The motion begins the process of directing the city attorney to craft an ordinance to ban smokeless tobacco use anywhere organized baseball is played in the city of Los Angeles, including Dodger Stadium. It could take three to six months before the City Council receives a final ordinance upon which to vote, Huizar said.  “It’s about protecting the health of our players and the health of our kids,” Huizar said. “America has a great pastime, but chewing smokeless tobacco shouldn’t be part of that.”

Huizar was joined at City Hall by local and state health officials, including Paul Simon, director of the L.A. County Public Health Department’s division of chronic disease and injury prevention, and Kevin O’Flaherty of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

Although his proposal would apply only to organized baseball venues, Huizar said there is a possibility that it could be extended to cover any sports venue, depending on how discussions go. “If we have San Francisco and then the city of L.A. take similar steps with respect to curtailing the use of smokeless tobacco, hopefully the state of California will take action,” Huizar said.

Major League Baseball banned smokeless tobacco in the minor leagues more than two decades ago, but it has remained in use at the major-league level. The league reportedly pushed the MLB Players Assn. to agree to a ban during contract negotiations in 2011, but the union refused.