Reeves Passes Comprehensive Smoke-free Ordinance

Reeves, La. – (November 12, 2019) – The Village of Reeves unanimously voted last night in favor of protecting the health of residents by implementing a smoke-free ordinance. The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living (TFL) and members of the Coalition for a Tobacco Free Louisiana (CTFLA) applaud the Mayor and Board of Aldermen for their vote. This is the first comprehensive smoke-free ordinance to be implemented in Allen Parish.

"The Village of Reeves is pleased to take this step and become a smoke-free community,” said Reeves Mayor Chris Guillory. “We’re building a healthier Reeves for all of our residents as our community grows and progresses.”

The smoke-free measure, which was voted on and passed Monday, November 11, will ensure all residents will be protected from the dangerous health effects of secondhand smoke. When the ordinance goes into effect on December 11, 2019, Reeves will become the 27th municipality in the state of Louisiana to become smoke-free. This brings the total population of Louisiana residents protected by smoke-free ordinances to 1,047,800.

“Residents of Reeves will now be able to breathe easier and healthier in public spaces with the passing of this smoke-free ordinance,” said Janice Ackley, TFL Regional Manager. “We appreciate the continued support from Mayor Chris Guillory and Board of Alderman, and congratulate them on this great step forward in protecting the health of the community.”

For more information on the growing movement to protect all Louisiana employees from secondhand smoke, visit www.HealthierAirForAll.org.

Individuals interested in quitting tobacco products can visit www.QuitWithUsLa.org or call 1-800-Quit-Now.

Photos from the vote are available upon request.

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The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living

The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living (TFL) engages in local and statewide tobacco control policy efforts that focus on tobacco prevention and initiation among youth, eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke, promote cessation services, and identify and eliminate tobacco-related disparities. TFL is guided by best practices in tobacco control and envisions a healthier Louisiana by reducing the excessive burden of tobacco use on all Louisianans. For more information visit www.tobaccofreeliving.org. To find out more about the dangers of secondhand smoke and show your support for a smoke-free Louisiana, visit www.healthierairforall.org. To learn more about quitting tobacco, visit www.quitwithusla.org.

About the Louisiana Cancer Research Center (LCRC)

Founded by the Louisiana State Legislature in 2002, the LCRC is a public-private partnership designed to promote education about cancer and conduct important research on the diagnosis, detection, treatment, and prevention of cancer in Louisiana. The LCRC partners with the public at large and four major cancer research institutions in Louisiana: LSU Health, Tulane University, Ochsner Health System, and Xavier University. More information about the LCRC is available at www.louisianacancercenter.org.

About the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI)

LPHI, founded in 1997, is a statewide 501(c)(3) nonprofit and public health institute that translates evidence into strategy to optimize health ecosystems. Our work focuses on uncovering complementary connections across sectors to combine the social, economic, and human capital needed to align action for health. We champion health for people, within systems, and throughout communities because we envision a world where everyone has the opportunity to be healthy. For more information, visit www.lphi.org.