Expert panel urges using tobacco‑settlement funds for tobacco control, recommends council oversight

Dr. Lester Breslow, a professor at UCLA’s School of Public Health, told the City Council task force the city should dedicate its tobacco‑settlement funds to tobacco‑control efforts and public health programs tied to the harms caused by tobacco use. He said the task force represented a range of institutions — UCLA, USC, Kaiser, Children’s Hospital and others — and argued the funds “should be used for the purpose for which we believe they were intended” to reduce tobacco‑related disease.

Breslow summarized the committee’s recommendations, saying the city should align spending with state and county tobacco‑control efforts and that an advisory group or the task force should be designated to consult with council staff about how to prioritize expenditures. He said tobacco remains a leading cause of death and that targeted local programs can complement statewide and national initiatives.

The presentation did not outline a specific budget allocation but emphasized programmatic priorities and coordinating spending decisions with public‑health partners. Councilmembers agreed to refer the matter to the ad hoc committee on the budget for follow‑up and public input at a future meeting.

Context: Breslow noted the task force reviewed a range of possible uses and did not advocate for any single intervention exclusively, but consistently recommended that the city focus funds on tobacco‑control activities and services to reduce disease caused by tobacco. He encouraged the council to charge a defined group to work with staff on expenditures.

Next steps: Councilmembers indicated the matter will proceed to the ad hoc budget committee for detailed consideration and public hearings; no immediate appropriation or final vote on expenditure priorities was made at this meeting.