The board members and staff of Breathe California of the Bay Area, Golden Gate, and Central Coast would like to wish you happiness, health, and prosperity in 2024. We look forward to another year of helping Bay Area communities breathe easier. Happy New Year from all of us!
Ready to Quit Smoking or Vaping this Year?
If you smoke or vape, the best thing you can do in 2024 is decide to say goodbye to tobacco. You could breathe more easily, prevent your family and loved ones from being exposed to secondhand smoke – AND add years to your life! You don’t have to do it alone. We can help you every step of the way as you work to become tobacco-free. Make this the year that you Quit Tobacco for Good! Contact Jason@lungsrus.org to learn more.
NHLBI Honors Breathe California
On its own 75th anniversary, The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) has recognized Breathe California’s 110 years of promoting evidence-based lung health in the Bay Area and beyond. They discuss our history, our longtime association with the NHLBI’s Learn More Breathe Better COPD program, Margo Sidener’s contribution to our work, the impact of our efforts, and our priorities in the future. Read the article here.
Union City: Support Better Tobacco Policies on Jan. 23
At a January 9th meeting of the Union City City Council, members of the Youth Commission and 25 members of the public gave their opinions in support of better tobacco control policies. These would include ending the sale of flavored tobacco and vaping devices as well as the sale of tobacco in pharmacies, prohibiting the issuing of Tobacco Retail Licenses (TRLs) for businesses near schools and the transfer of existing TRLs to those purchasing a business that sells tobacco. We hope that you can show YOUR support by emailing the Union City City Clerk OR be there in person to share your opinion at the first reading on January 23rd. Read our press release to learn more.
Menthol Funeral on January 18th
Did you know that big tobacco has aggressively targeted African American communities with ads for menthol cigarettes since the 1950s? That menthol cigarettes have killed one million Black people in the last 20 years? Our allies at the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council (AATCLC) are holding a Menthol Funeral in Washington DC tomorrow and demanding that the Biden Administration ban menthol to save Black lives. Learn more about the event and about how the insidious tobacco industry continues to find support.
Tree Planting at Los Arboles Elementary in San José
On November 18th, Breathe California, Our City Forest and Los Arboles Elementary staff worked together with over 60 volunteers to plant 23 trees on the school campus. Volunteers included students from Santa Teresa High School’s Humanity First, Oak Grove High School’s Environmental Action Club, Pioneer, Irvington, Bellarmine, and Gunderson high schools, and Foothill College Respiratory Therapy Program. Our City Forest supplied the trees for the event, while food for participants was funded by a microgrant from our allies at California Clean Air Day.
Ready for a HUGE rebate on your EV purchase?
Eligible income-qualified applicants for PG&E’s Pre-Owned Electric Vehicle (POEV) program may receive a rebate of up to $4,000 towards their purchase or lease of a pre-owned electric vehicle. It’s a win-win: save money and help the environment! Learn more.
