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Georgia gets poor marks in 2007 Tobacco
Control report
By
June Deen
Southeast Region, American Lung Association
Special to GwinnettForum.com
SMYRNA, Ga., Jan. 29, 2008 -- Georgia scored two "F"s,
a "B" and a "D" in the American Lung Association's
annual State of Tobacco Control 2007 report released recently. The
annual American Lung Association (ALA) report card grades states,
the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico on key tobacco control
policies.
In addition, the report grades federal tobacco control efforts,
including: cigarette taxes, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
regulation of tobacco products, cessation policies, and ratification
of the international tobacco control treaty.
ALA gave Georgia a "B" for its state smoke free air law,
an "F" for its 37 cent cigarette tax, among the lowest
in the country, and for its failure to adequately fund state tobacco
use prevention programs. The "D" was for weak youth access
to tobacco laws.
Raising Georgia's cigarette tax and sufficiently funding tobacco
prevention programs would certainly improve our grades. Twenty-five
states have a cigarette tax of $1 or more; the state tax average
is $1.11. Raising cigarette taxes has motivated thousands of Americans
to quit smoking and discouraged kids from starting to smoke.
On the national scene, grades for federal issues---FDA regulation
of tobacco products, cigarette excise tax, cessation policies, and
the international tobacco control treaty---still score only Ds and
Fs. Congress, however, is poised to pass the Family Smoking Prevention
and Tobacco Control Act to give the FDA oversight over tobacco products,
legislation that will curb the marketing of cigarettes to children
and teens.
Data released in 2007 detailed the tobacco industry's spending,
including approximately $36 million a day ($13.1 billion annually)
in marketing, in addition to $1.7 million in direct contributions
to federal candidates and $96 million supplied to state-level candidates,
committees and ballot measure campaigns during the 2005 and 2006
election cycle.
Despite signing a settlement agreement with state Attorneys General
in October 2006 prohibiting the marketing of candy, fruit, and alcohol-flavored
cigarettes, RJ Reynolds violated the spirit of the agreement by
introducing a new line of flavored cigarettes barely seven months
later; survey data has shown that these products are favored by
smokers aged 17 to 19.
During 2007, two major public health reports---from the President's
Cancer Panel and the Institute of Medicine---heralded the need for
the federal and state governments to take urgent action to reduce
America's tobacco epidemic.
The American Lung Association has helped millions of Americans
quit smoking through its Lung HelpLine, 1-800-LUNGUSA, and through
our smoking cessation programs. That includes "Freedom From
Smoking®", considered to be the "gold standard"
of group-setting, smoking cessation programs and Not on Tobacco,
or N-O-T, a nationally recognized smoking cessation program for
youth.
The full State of Tobacco Control 2007 report can be viewed at:
http://www.stateoftobaccocontrol.org.
Does Obama victory in SC bring along another
problem?
By
Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
JAN. 29, 2008 -- With the South Carolina elections on successive
Saturdays over, the presidential primary race attention turns now
to Florida. Next week the focus will shift to states all around
the country, including Georgia, as Super Tuesday's primaries might
deliver the necessary momentum to guarantee at least one party a
nominee.
Brack |
By then on the Republican side, it could be down to John McCain,
Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney. And while the Democrats have seriously
whittled their field, we suspect the main focus by then will be
Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
What struck us coming out of the South Carolina Democratic primary
was the overwhelming victory for Obama, by a margin wider than expected
by polls: 55 to 27 percent! (Polling is having a difficult time
these days.) But in that result for Obama, there exists a certain
possibility which might work against his candidacy.
It's the race issue. While apparently the Clintons tried to play
the race card against Mr. Obama in South Carolina, as such it may
have propelled African Americans voters to the polls in a heavy
turnout for Mr. Obama. But therein lies a problem.
South Carolina, you see, in the Democratic primary, has an unusually
high percentage of black voters. Add to it that ringing endorsement
that Oprah Winfrey gave Mr. Obama, and the result was a total victory
for him in South Carolina.
Yet may we suggest: has this done more to cement the feeling of
voters in other states that Obama is a black candidate more than
he is a candidate for all people? It's a matter of perception; Obama
got about 25 per cent of the white vote in South Carolina. But the
impression is that the black vote gave him the victory. In other
states, where there is not such a high percentage of voters who
are black, will the non-black voter line up solidly against Obama
because it appears that the black community is heavily in favor
of his candidacy?
Note that such an appearance comes without any effort from the
Clintons or other people. Is Mr. Obama's success in South Carolina
going to cast him as more of a race-related candidate than he wants
to be seen in other parts of the nation?
Does his South Carolina success work against him? If that is the
case, it might be to his benefit that some black headliners are
staunchly in the Clinton camp, such as Rep. John Lewis of Georgia.
That might work to diffuse the "total black" candidacy
that the South Carolina victory might engender.
Mr. Obama might counter-attack the race question by, in effect,
paying less attention to his black supporters and emphasizing the
broad appeal he hopes to claim from other supporters. He would not
be turning his back on black people, but trying to appeal to the
broader spectrum of voters. There is little danger here, since we
would argue that a big majority of blacks would support his candidacy
anyway. Mr. Obama does not want to be seen as "too" black,
or "the black's candidate." That would be a weakness.
We yearn for the day when a black, or a woman, or Mormon, or a
Hispanic….or any minority….can be elected president with
a overwhelming support of the nation. This could be the year for
either a black or a woman, or a Mormon. We'll be closer to knowing
both party candidates after next Tuesday's big vote across the nation.
 The
public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com
to you at no cost to readers. Today's sponsor is the Gwinnett
County Public Library, named Library of the Year 2000. GCPL
currently operates 14 branches throughout the county. Library hours
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Norcross
mayor cites exciting projects forthcoming
(Editor's Note: Earlier new mayors of Gwinnett
were asked to give their vision for their city. Norcross Mayor Bucky
Johnson asked to present his vision in this edition. -eeb)
Editor, the Forum:
Johnson |
I am very honored to have been elected as the Mayor of Norcross.
I plan to build on the successes of Mayor Emeritus, Lillian Webb.
Norcross is such a beautiful town with a rich heritage and excellent
location in the Greater Atlanta area. These attributes, plus the
caring people of our city, make a winning combination. I am pleased
to work with an outstanding Council and with the talented employees
in City Hall.
There are a number of exciting projects in the works that will
improve the quality of life in Norcross:
- Lillian Webb Park is about to break ground and will be a terrific
addition to our community.
- The Cultural Arts Center is slated to have the first phase renovation
completed by April and will be adding programming including another
Summer Music Series in the Park.
- The new Fire Station No. 1 is open and the Fire Museum is near
opening..
- The Gwinnett Village CID is making great progress in our area.
- Streetscape projects are off the ground and we just received
an additional grant for $370,000.
- Numerous citizens are serving on boards and volunteering for
events that matter.
- The Gwinnett County school system is outstanding and we can
be proud of the schools in our community.
- The Corners to Crossing 10K event on April 19 will bring together
the Norcross and Peachtree Corners Communities; local school groups
will entertain and an evening street dance will cap off the day.
The finishing touches are being put on the 2030 Plan with a tremendous
amount of community input and the work of an outstanding Steering
Committee of citizens and staff lead by Pond and Company (a planning
firm). My job is to help communicate that vision, lead the council
and staff in implementing the 2030 Plan and see to it that we do
it the very best that we can. We must be good stewards of our resources.
I believe that if we, as a city, are creative and work together,
we can meet any challenge.
-- Bucky Johnson, Norcross
Gwinnett
Village CID redevelopment meeting is tonight
The Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District (GVCID) will
be hosting a public information meeting regarding redevelopment
planning for the Jimmy Carter Boulevard and Buford Highway corridors.
The meeting will be Tuesday, January 29 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at
Ashiana Banquet Hall, on the first floor, of Global Mall Forum,
5675 Jimmy Carter Boulevard in Norcross.
The area to be discussed includes Jimmy Carter Boulevard from Singleton
Road to Buford Highway; and Buford Highway from the DeKalb/Gwinnett
County Line to Langford Road. The meeting will present the vision
of the Gwinnett Village CID's adopted Redevelopment Plan, and gain
input from the public on the CID overlay district ordinance that
is currently being developed. Staff will discuss how this draft
code offers incentives to create a vibrant, mixed-use community
along these gateway corridors.
For more information, call John McHenry at 770-449-6515 or email
at johnmchenry@gwinnettvillage.com.
Chamber names Wayne
Sikes as Gwinnett Citizen of the Year
The most recent chairman of the Gwinnett Medical Center, Wayne
Sikes of Snellville, is the Gwinnett Citizen of the Year, as announced
by the Chamber of Commerce. Sikes was a surprised winner at the
60th annual meeting of the Gwinnett Chamber Friday night at Gwinnett
Center.
The Chamber announced a platter of awards at the meeting and installed
Bill McCargo of Scientific-Atlanta as its new president. More than
1,100 people were in attendance.
Sikes |
Sikes became involved in healthcare in 1989, when he was asked
to serve on the Hospital Authority of Gwinnett County. By 1993,
he had joined the Gwinnett Hospital System board and its Health
System board. This past December, he ended his term as chairman
and is currently a board member. In addition, Sikes has been named
Small Business Person of the Year by the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce
and was presented the Distinguished Service Award by the Georgia
Hospital Association for "significant contributions in improving
health care for the people of Georgia."
Sikes is a former child care center operator, and a former city
councilman in Snellville. He is a member of the Gwinnett Rotary
Club, and served as its president in 1991-92, and a member of the
board of First Bank of the South. He and his wife, Beth, have three
grown children. He attended the University of Georgia, and is a
graduate of Georgia Tech, a former Air Force aero-medic, and worked
for General Motors and Lockheed Aircraft Corp. before starting his
local business.
Other awards given by the Chamber include:
- D. Scott Hudgens Humanitarian Award: Annandale of Suwanee,
received by President Rob Ponder. Annandale at Suwanee is a private,
non-profit village providing life assistance to adults with developmental
disabilities.
- Legacy Award: the late Lawrenceville Mayor and auto dealer
Bobby Sikes.
- Ambassador of the Year: Laurie McClain.
- Public Service Awards: Miguel Candelaria of M-A&O
Construction Company; Gwinnett Sheriff Butch Conway; Karen C.
Hill of Hi-Hope Center; Herman Pennamon Jr. of Georgia Power Company;
Clyde and Sandra Strickland of Lawrenceville; Richard Chandler,
Buford attorney; and Dr. Bill Russell, Russell Landscaping.
To read the acclaim given all of the winners, click
here.
Atlanta Home Builders
pick Steve Palmer As new president
Palmer |
Bowen Family Homes Chief Financial Officer Steve Palmer will lead
the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association as its president in
2008. Palmer assumed his responsibilities on January 22. Palmer
says his primary goal for 2008 is improving the perception of the
industry's health and convincing the public that "now is the
absolute best time to buy a new home." He was one of the leaders
of the 2007 Get Home Atlanta! campaign, in which HBA members raised
$400,000 and received in excess of $1.5 million in media value to
spread the "buy now" message. By using a coordinated effort
to continue spreading the message, Palmer says he hopes to help
HBA members achieve greater success in 2008. Palmer joined Bowen
Family Homes as CFO in 1999. Previously, he worked for 13 years
as division vice president of finance of Beazer Homes in Washington
D.C.
- An invitation: What
Web sites, books or restaurants have you enjoyed? Send us your
best recent visit to a restaurant or most recent book you have
read along with a short paragraph as to why you liked it, plus
what book you plan to read next. --eeb
Letter
to Lincoln sets Bill Arp on writing popular columns
In the late 19th century Bill
Arp's weekly column in the Atlanta Constitution, syndicated
to hundreds of newspapers, made him the South's most popular writer.
Others surpassed him in literary quality, but in numbers of regular
readers, no one exceeded Bill Arp.
Arp |
Bill Arp was born Charles Henry Smith in Lawrenceville on June
15, 1826. He married Mary Octavia Hutchins, the daughter of a wealthy
lawyer and plantation owner, and started a family that would eventually
include ten surviving children. Smith studied law with his father-in-law
and then moved to Rome in 1851.
Smith took his famous pen name in April 1861 when, after the Confederate
attack on Fort Sumter, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation
ordering the Southern rebels "to disperse and retire peaceably."
Smith wrote a satiric response to the president in the dialect favored
by humorists of the day ("I tried my darnd'st yesterday to
disperse and retire, but it was no go") and signed it "Bill
Arp," in honor of a local "cracker" named Bill Arp.
The letter to "Mr. Lincoln, Sir" was reprinted across
the South and made Bill Arp a household name. During the war Smith
wrote almost 30 more Arp letters for southern newspapers, attacking
Union policies, praising the Confederacy, and describing in a humorous
fashion his family's experiences as refugees ("runagees,"
he called them) while fleeing from advancing Federal troops in 1864.
Arp later criticized the nation's Reconstruction policies in letters
that often expressed a good bit of frustration, even anger. The
Arp letters ended in the early 1870s, as Reconstruction came to
a close in Georgia.
In 1877 Smith and his family moved to a farm in Bartow County,
just outside of Cartersville. A year later the Atlanta Constitution
printed a new letter from Bill Arp, his first in half a dozen years
and the beginning of a 25-year series of weekly columns called "The
Country Philosopher." The letter, on the joys of farming, was
in many ways different from the Bill Arp of the war and Reconstruction.
Gone was most of the dialect (it would never completely disappear),
but more important, the subject matter had changed: Arp now wrote
delightful epistles of the pleasures of rural life, the comfort
of home and family, the independence and strength of Georgia's common
folk, and the bright memories of the days of his youth. Arp still
wrote occasionally on political, economic, and social issues, including
a number of pro-lynching columns in the 1890s, but it was his "homely
philosophy," as it was called---his writings on the farm and
fireside, the past, and various pastoral topics---that made him
so popular.
The message of Arp's Constitution columns was ambiguous. On one
hand he promoted the economic growth of Henry W. Grady's New South
program; on the other hand he criticized many aspects of New South
society, and one can read his homely philosophy as implicit criticism
of the new age. Perhaps this explains his popularity: he reflected
the ambiguous feelings of many other New Southerners. Smith died
on August 24, 1903, and is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Cartersville.
Said over 100 years
ago, and still true today
" We Americans have no commission from God to police the world."
-- Former President Benjamin Harrison (1833-1901), via Marshall
Miller, Lilburn
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