Smoke‑free coalition tells council West Covina residents support outdoor no‑smoking rules, cites survey data

A member of the Smoke Free West Covina Coalition urged the City Council to consider policies restricting smoking and vaping in outdoor spaces, citing coalition surveys and petitions the group presented to the council.

Alix Politana, identified as project coordinator for Behavioral Health Services Inc., said the coalition has conducted roughly 475 local public‑opinion surveys and gathered 55 signed postcards from residents. Politana told the council that 79 percent of residents surveyed reported exposure to secondhand smoke or aerosol in outdoor areas within the past year and that 80 percent of respondents supported a law prohibiting smoking and vaping in outdoor dining areas.

Politana referenced health research and recent reports, saying secondhand smoke contains thousands of chemical compounds and that the 2024 Surgeon General’s report connects secondhand smoke exposure to premature deaths from heart disease and lung cancer. She also cited the American Lung Association’s 2025 “State of Tobacco Control” report, which gave West Covina a low letter grade for smoke‑free outdoor air policies.

The speaker urged the council to consider policy options that neighboring cities have enacted, and to support educational outreach at community events. No council motion or vote on a local ordinance occurred at the meeting; the presentation was part of the public‑comment period.

Ending: Councilmembers thanked the speaker and asked staff to file the coalition’s materials; no immediate council action was taken on a smoke‑free policy during the meeting.