by Caroline Anderson, Easy Reader

The American Lung Association gave Manhattan Beach one of seventeen “A” grades in California in a report that was released last month.

The ratings were calculated based on a county’s or city’s laws related to smokefree housing, smokefree outdoor air and reducing sales of tobacco products.

The top mark contrasted with the national nonprofit’s State of Tobacco Control report’s finding that the state as a whole was falling backward.

“While California earned a B for its smokefree air policies, the state received an F for its low tobacco taxes, an F for failing to sufficiently fund tobacco prevention and control programs, and an F for poor coverage of smoking cessation and treatment services,” read the press release on the 2016 report.

Last year, Manhattan Beach passed several laws increasingly targeting smoking, which was banned in outdoor public places the year before. They included a multi-unit housing smoking ban and curbs on tobacco sales near schools and certain flavored tobacco products.

“Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S.,” Beach Cities Health District CEO Susan Burden said in a press release put out by the city. “However, research clearly shows that aggressive smoke-free policies effectively lower smoking rates, cut unnecessary healthcare costs and, most importantly, improve overall community health. I hope Manhattan Beach’s success inspires other cities to follow suit.” ER

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