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From:Luci Latu <br />To:GRP-City Council <br />Cc:Taulama for Tongans <br />Subject:Public Comment – Agenda Item 11A: County Match Tobacco Retail Licensing Ordinance <br />Date:Monday, June 8, 2026 6:18:53 PM <br />Some people who received this message don't often get email from lflatu78@gmail.com. Learn why this is <br />important <br />Dear Mayor Martínez Saballos and Members of the Redwood City City Council, <br />My name is Lucianne F. Latu, and I am a resident of San Mateo County in the City of San <br />Mateo. I also serve as the Assistant Director of Taulama for Tongans, a community-rooted <br />nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering Pacific Islander individuals and families <br />throughout San Mateo County through culturally grounded services, education, advocacy, and <br />community engagement. <br />I am writing in strong support of Agenda Item 11A and the adoption of the County Match <br />Tobacco Retail Licensing Ordinance. <br />As I shared in my previous public comment, gathering spaces are deeply important in Pacific <br />Islander communities. These are the places where families come together to share meals, tell <br />stories, celebrate milestones, support one another, and pass cultural traditions from one <br />generation to the next. These spaces help strengthen our sense of identity, belonging, and <br />community. <br />Because these spaces matter so much, protecting the health of the people who gather within <br />them matters even more. <br />For me, this issue is not about pitting public health against culture. Public health and culture <br />should work hand in hand. Our health is what allows our communities to thrive, our traditions <br />to continue, and future generations to remain connected to their families and cultural heritage. <br />Without healthy communities, our ability to preserve and pass on our culture becomes more <br />difficult. <br />The need for action is clear. <br />According to the City's staff report, Redwood City currently has approximately 55 tobacco <br />retailers and has experienced years of limited and inconsistent tobacco retailer enforcement <br />since County permitting ceased in 2022. City inspections identified retailers continuing to sell <br />flavored tobacco products and e-cigarettes despite existing prohibitions. Additionally, <br />statewide data cited in the staff report found that 18.9% of tobacco retailers sold to underage <br />youth and young adults in 2024, while 84.5% of youth tobacco users reported using flavored <br />tobacco products. <br />The staff report also notes that vaping remains the most common form of tobacco use among <br />youth and that flavored products continue to be a primary pathway into nicotine addiction for <br />young people. Redwood City residents, families, schools, and youth-serving organizations all <br />bear the consequences of these realities. <br />I also appreciate that the County Match approach balances public health protections with