Mineola, NY - Nassau County Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury) recently celebrated a reunion of sorts when she joined with health and elected officials from New York City, Suffolk County and to mark the release of an opinion poll that reported overwhelming support by the public for clean indoor air.

"It was less than two years ago that I met with these like-minded individuals at the first of several 'Clean Indoor Air Summits' sponsored by myself and other Nassau County legislators," said Jacobs. "We met to discuss the possibility of a regional Clean Indoor Air law that would protect the health of every worker in Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, and New York City and by working together we achieved our goal."

Also attending the press conference were representatives of the Tobacco Action Coalition of Long Island, NYC Coalition For A Smoke Free-City, POW'R Against Tobacco Coalition (Westchester), Suffolk County Legislator Brian Foley and Nassau County Health Commissioner David Ackman MD.

The Coalitions have been garnering support for the law via a postcard campaign. Over 15,000 postcards have been signed by the public in support of the new law and will be on display prior to delivery to the Governor in Albany.

The New York State regional law became a reality in July 24, 2003 and the recent release of a poll by the Tobacco Control Coalitions of the major metropolitan counties marks the successful, 6-month anniversary of the implementation of the strengthened Clean Indoor Air Law.

A recent poll conducted six months after the law took effect reports the overwhelming support by the public for clean indoor air. A New York State Health Department study was also conducted on bar and restaurant workers who were exposed to secondhand smoke prior to the implementation of the law and three months after the smoking ban went into effect. The study measured cotinine levels, a nicotine by product that clearly measures exposure to second hand smoke, in the saliva of workers and all these levels were greatly reduced.

"I believe this opinion poll by TAC reinforces what has occurred in other municipalities and cities across the nation following the strengthening of indoor air and smoking laws," said Jacobs. "Nassau County has seen no real change in bar patronage since the inception of the Clean Indoor Air Act. The majority of people go out to eat just as often as before. That's the great news!"

According to Corbin, and the good news continues to be that thousands of New York residents are now protected from the dangers of secondhand smoke in the workplace.

"The overwhelming public support is a call to all lawmakers that not only do these laws work to protect public health, they are also highly popular," said Jacobs.

In addition, according to the Nassau County Health Department, it has been inundated with letters and e-mails from the public voicing their "Thanks" for keeping their indoor air clean. Furthermore, the enforcement of this law has been relatively simple, as local establishments have been readily complying. Thus far, no one in Nassau County has applied for a waiver.

Nassau County residents and surrounding regions have made it clear-they want to live and work in smoke-free environments and will settle for nothing less.