ATLANTA - Today, the Atlanta City Council voted in support of ordinance that will protect everyone’s right to breathe clean air in workplaces across the city. The following can be attributed to Gary Reedy, chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society and American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, with global headquarters in Atlanta.
“Everyone deserves to breathe clean, smoke-free air and no worker should be forced to choose between their health and a paycheck. That’s why I’m thrilled the Atlanta City Council has taken this important step towards a smoke-free city.
“Atlanta is a vibrant community and a dynamic hub for business and culture, and it is also the home of the American Cancer Society’s Global Headquarters and the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This great city deserves smoke-free workplaces, including an airport that does not put the health of its workers and travelers at risk.
“Nearly 18,000 people in Georgia will lose their cancer battles this year and about one-third of those deaths will be tobacco related. By passing this smoke-free ordinance, the city council has moved us closer to helping to reduce this number.
“I thank Councilmembers Matt Westmoreland and Andre Dickens, who co-sponsored this bill, and urge Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms to sign this lifesaving measure into law.”
About ACS CAN
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is making cancer a top priority for public officials and candidates at the federal, state and local levels. ACS CAN empowers advocates across the country to make their voices heard and influence evidence-based public policy change as well as legislative and regulatory solutions that will reduce the cancer burden. As the American Cancer Society’s nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN is critical to the fight for a world without cancer. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.