Members of the BOLD (Building Our Lives Drug-free) Coalition Teens Against Drug Abuse (TADA) gave citizen input before the Fall River City Council on March 8, 2011 in the first reading to support an amendment to the current tobacco sales ordinance that would restrict the sale of e-cigarettes to teens, increase the fines for sales to minors and prohibit tobacco sales in educational settings and pharmacies. In addition to the members of TADA, testimony in support of the proposal was given by a Tobacco Control Coordinator Marilyn Edge, Mass Municipal Association representative D.J. Wilson, citizen Karin Wood and assistant city corporation counsel Elizabeth Pereira  Witnesses in opposition to the proposed ordinance included Chamber of Commerce CEO Robert Mellion who saw the measure as a restriction of free trade. Following the period of questions and discussion, the measure passed 5-4, with Councilors Bigelow, Kilby, Lund, Mitchell, and Poulin voting in favor. Click here for the Herald News story. Click here for photos from the Ordinance Committee hearing. For more information about TADA, contact SSTAR Youth Coordinator Mike Aguiar at 508-324-3598. 
 

(Top row, left and center) Teens Against Drug Abuse (TADA) members Amber Valentin, Ashley Galvin, Markus Watson and others display their posters in support of the ordinance in the Government Center lobby as Marcia Picard, Deborah Orlando and Jamison Souza applaud. (Top row, right) Councilors Pelletier and Pereira explain their objections to the measure. (Second row, left) BOLD vice-chairman Jasiel Correia II gets ready to give his testimony in support of the ordinance. (Second row, center) Markus Watson calls on the Council to support the youth of the community and their health by supporting the measure. (Second row, right) Councilor Bigelow, who voted in support, and Councilor Camara, who voted to oppose, state their point of view. (Third row) Tobacco Control Coordinator Marilyn Edge and Mass Municipal Association representative D.J. Wilson point out that similar measures have not been challenged in court as Councilor Kilby, who voted in support, listens. (Bottom row, left and center) Karin Wood of BOLD lends her support before assistant city corporation counsel Elizabeth Pereira clarifies the difference between this measure and other measures in California that were challenged in court. (Bottom row, right) TADA members are pleased with the favorable vote and begin to strategize how to ensure that the measure passes at the next Council meeting.