Mountain View wins kudos for fighting teen tobacco addiction Mountain View wins kudos for fighting teen tobacco addiction (November 11, 2005)

The Santa Clara County Public Health Department on Tuesday recognized Mountain View as the top city in the county in the fight against teen addiction to tobacco products.

Mountain View received the highest grade in the 2005 Santa Clara County Tobacco Report Card developed by the county's Coalition Against Teen Tobacco. The city was praised for its work in development, monitoring, and enforcement of laws and policies governing the sales and advertising of tobacco products.

"It is an honor to receive recognition for the tobacco sale enforcement and retailer education," Mountain View Mayor Matt Neely said. "This issue is one of the top priorities for our city council and police department."

A major factor in Mountain View's top score was the city's development of a conditional use permit for tobacco vendors who are in violation of selling tobacco to minors. Santa Clara County Supervisor Liz Kniss recognized Neely and other city officials at a ceremony Tuesday afternoon at Mountain View High School.

"I commend the city of Mountain View and the Coalition Against Teen Tobacco for their efforts to reduce youth access to tobacco," Kniss said. -- Bay City News

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