Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal. Photos by Daniel DeBoom.
5:00am | Yesterday, the Long Beach Health Department kicked off “Fresh Air Dining LB,” a new program designed to provide smoke-free outdoor dining options for Long Beach residents and visitors in partnership with local business associations, restaurants and community groups.
“Increasing the number of smoke-free areas outdoors provides more healthful environments for families to enjoy in our City,” said Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal, who represents the 2nd District. “Smoke-free outdoor dining will make Long Beach a destination for those individuals who want to live healthy lives and enjoy outdoor dining while avoiding the health effects from tobacco products.”
The Fresh Air Dining LB program also encourages the community to show their support of smoke-free patio dining by participating in a series of Smoke-Free Sundays in the three major Long Beach dining districts: Downtown (Nov. 6), Bixby Knolls (Nov. 13) and Belmont Shore (Nov. 20).
“The Downtown Long Beach Associates is proud to partner with other business associations, local restaurants, community members and the Health Department to create cleaner, healthier, and more enjoyable outdoor dining experiences for patrons Downtown and throughout Long Beach,” said Kraig Kojian, President and CEO of the Downtown Long Beach Associates (DLBA).
“Bixby Knolls is very happy to participate in the Fresh Air Dining Program,” said Blair Cohn, Executive Director of the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association (BKBIA). “Bixby Knolls is an active neighborhood and any time the BKBIA can help promote health and wellness and connect it to our businesses we think it is a win-win for everyone.”
“There are so many wonderful places to eat in Long Beach, I’m glad that now families will be able to dine outdoors and enjoy the great weather too,” said Pat Etem, Co-Chair of the Coalition for a Smoke-Free Long Beach. “The Coalition for a Smoke-Free Long Beach is excited to have more smoke-free options in Long Beach, and we congratulate the participating restaurants on this public health milestone.”
An updated list of participating restaurants is available at www.longbeach.gov/health.
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Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal steps through the back patio area of George’s Greek Cafe where the Long Beach Health Department held a press conference to launch the Fresh Air Dining LB Program for smoke-free outdoor dining options
A dental student on break from Charter College, smokes a cigarette across from the back patio of George’s