HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/19/2024 - Public Hearing - Letter from Cheryl Facciani - Ordinance - Tobacco and Vape Sales near schoolsNovember 18 , 2024
ROANOKE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
5937 Cov e Rd. Roanok e , VA 24 0 19
(540) 562-39 00 X 1011 2
Thank you for allowing my letter to be read aloud tonight at this meeting and thank you all for your
time and service .
I am writing to you tonight as I unfortunately , could not attend this meeting due to Hidden Valley High
School Girl 's Volleyball State Semi -finals taking place in Christiansburg . Go Titans!
It is both an honor and privilege to serve as an elected official on the Roanoke County School Board
for Windsor Hills District.
I am asking for your support for a local ordinance that would prevent future vape and smoke shops
from opening within 1,000 ft of ALL Roanoke County Schools who serve students in grades k-12 . We
would be remiss to exclude parochial/private schools and elementary schools as they are just as
susceptible .
I am not advocating to stifle legitimate business. I believe in the principles of a free market. However ,
it becomes a serious concern when businesses prioritize profit at the expense of our children 's health ,
directly marketing addictive and harmful products to children , and in too many cases , illegally selling
these products to minors .
Our children deserve protection from businesses that engage in these unethical practices . While I
respect the right of anyone to run a business , it's reasonable to ask that these shops be established
away from ou r schools .
Ask anyone familiar with the strategies of Big Tobacco ; this kind of targeting isn 't accidental. It's a
deliberate attempt to create future customers by appealing to the most vulnerable . You might say ,
"But they 're required to check ID ." And you 'd be right ; they are supposed to card . But they often don 't.
I have witnessed this firsthand .
So , let me pose this question: if these businesses aren 't targeting children , why are they choosing to
open near our schools? The answer is obvious to me , and it should be to everyone in this room . It 's
time to stop turning a blind eye to this issue and protect ALL k-12 children who attend schools in our
county .
Sincerely ,
Cheryl Facciani
School Board member
Windsor Hills District