Gilroy earned a C grade in the annual “State of Tobacco Control” report from the American Lung Association in California, which looks at jurisdiction’s efforts to reduce tobacco-caused death and disease.
The report issues grades for all 482 cities and 58 counties in the state across three main categories: smoke free outdoor air, smoke free housing and reducing sales of tobacco products. Currently, 18 percent of all Americans smoke tobacco products, which remains the number one cause of preventable death. While Santa Clara County received an A grade, Gilroy fell short, receiving an F in smoke free housing and D in smoke free outdoor air.
The only A the south county city received was in reducing sales of tobacco products. For more details and to see how other California cities fared, go to http://center4tobaccopolicy.org/tobacco-money-politics/tobacco-policy-grades/.
