Five Centralia Middle School students and members of the school’s prevention club asked the Centralia City Council Tuesday night to take action with the “excessive waste” of tobacco and vapes in city parks.
They shared solutions that neighboring counties have enforced to address the problem of smoking near parks and playgrounds and their own ideas for how to deter smoking in Centralia.
Glenda Alvarez-Price, Maliyah Popoca Cruz, Paulette Cardiel, Jatziry Martinez and Hayden Williams spoke to the city councilors, who showed support and appreciation for the students’ mission.
Students cited a 2023 Centralia community survey asking adults about a number of issues among youths in grades six through 12, and tobacco and e-cigarette use was rated the highest over alcohol, cannabis, bullying and depression, among others. The 2023 Healthy Youth Survey, a self-reported youth survey, showed the average age of first use of vape products by Centralia youth was 13 years old.
Popoca Cruz expressed her disapproval of the frequent cigarette butts around children’s toys in Centralia parks and advertising for cigarettes and vapes in stores around town.
“This is making our community less safe to be around for babies or toddlers who are prone to putting things in their mouths while in our parks,” she said. “In our community, stores that people go to for daily necessities advertise smoking, drinking or drugs. Children and young adults are exposed to these advertisements and may succumb to these advertisements."
Students brought a sign from the City of Elma that reads, “Keep our kids healthy. Please refrain from smoking and vaping. Elma’s youth, our future.” Cardiel said Elma and Tenino have put up signs prohibiting smoking in their parks, and 12 Pierce County park jurisdictions have smoking or vaping policies. Alvarez-Price said the club wants to see a sign similar to Elma’s but to make it orange and black and to say “Centralia’s youth, our future.”
Williams asked the council to make an enforceable policy where people cannot smoke within 100 feet of a playground or write a proclamation promoting civic responsibility regarding smoking or vaping near children. Cardiel added that CMS students have backed the prevention club and their mission.
Councilor Max Vogt expressed his support for the club’s presentation and said he was impressed with the students’ approach.
“This is such an important issue, and I’ve never heard it be addressed by young people before. Being an older person, I’ve seen so many people have so many health problems from smoking and vaping,” he said. “The fact that you’re even thinking about this is very impressive, and I love the idea of getting it out to the community with some signs and some awareness to particularly give kids an alternative to being pushed to vape and to smoke.”
Mayor Kelly Smith Johnston said the council and city staff will learn more about the issue through the informational packet the students presented but noted that enforcement may be difficult for those that smoke. Williams responded that any difference is a positive difference.
“We will stay on top of this and appreciate you bringing it to us. You all have done a very excellent presentation, and I also want to acknowledge the educators who supported them in doing that as well,” Smith Johnston, who donned a Centralia Tigers hat during the meeting, told the students.
