Finding help to quit smoking
Councilman Rafael Salamanca hosted a pop-up offi ce to provide
on-site services and information to residents.
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, M BTR AY 17-23, 2019 67
Smoking is responsible for
one in fi ve deaths in the United
States. Smoking causes lung
disease, heart disease, cancer,
respiratory problems, osteoporosis,
eye disease, and diabetes.
The number of smokers
in NYC continues to decline
but there is still a long way to
go. Fourteen percent of Bronx
residents currently smoke.
There are six neighborhoods
in the Bronx (Belmont, East
Tremont, Morrisania, Crotona,
Throgs Neck and Co-op
City) where 20% of residents
smoke.
Smoking is dangerous at
any age but older adults face
additional risks. Smokers over
the age of 60 are more likely
than nonsmokers the same age
to have a long-lasting cough or
trouble breathing. Smoking is
linked to loss of independence
and dementia in seniors.
Many older adults have
been smoking for decades and
some feel there is no point in
quitting at their age. The truth
is there are always benefi ts to
quitting smoking no matter
what your age. When you stop
smoking, you lower your risk
of illnesses and improve circulation.
People also feel better
when they quit.
Quitting smoking can
be diffi cult but there are resources
to help. If you are
thinking of quitting, speak to
your doctor or call the New
York State Smokers Quitline
(1-866-697-8487). The Quitline
is free and staffed by Quit
Coaches who provide information
and products to help
you stop smoking. The Quitline
also offers free nicotine
replacement therapies such
as the nicotine patch. Quit
Coaches speak a variety of
languages. All printed materials
are available in English
and Spanish.
Smokefree 60+ is another
resource to help you stop
smoking (www.60plus.smokefree.
gov). Smokefree 60+ is a
website for people over the age
of 60 looking for assistance in
quitting smoking. This website
includes tips for creating
a quit plan, managing withdrawal
symptoms and nicotine
cravings. You can also
sign-up for a service that sends
daily text messages encouraging
you to stay smoke-free.
The New York State Quitline
and Smokefree 60+ are
great resources for tips and
support to help you quit smoking.
If you are not a smoker
but have a loved one that is,
the Quitline and Smokefree
60+ have materials for you to
share. It is never too late to
quit!
Brought to you by Montefi
ore Medical Group, R.A.I.N.
and the Hartford Institute for
Geriatric Nursing @ NYU,
based on materials from NYSDOH,
American Lung Association,
NIH and the National
Institute on Aging.
SALAMANCA HOSTS POP-UP OFFICE
(Above) Councilman Salamanca (c) and his staff met with residents
on the streets. Photo courtesy of Councilman Rafael Salamanca’s
Offi ce
Legalizing marijuana,
with a Focus on Social Justice,
Unites 2020 Democrats
(NYT 3/17/19). This is what
the legislators are concerned
about, but let’s not forget to
hear from the people in the
Bronx and south Bronx: One
parent’s comment: “Hookah
and vape shops are across the
street from my church and
where I walk with my daughter
for Sunday Mass. I did not
grow up with this and now
this will be as normal to my
daughter as alcohol advertisements
have been for me.
“What will it look like adding
to this already crowded
street of alcohol and vape advertisements,
more shops selling
marijuana?”
One 8th grader stated: “I
accidentally picked up a Four
Loko at a local bodega thinking
it was an Arizona Ice
Tea. If marijuana becomes legal
kids, like me, are going to
think they are buying candy
instead of marijuana gummy
bears, marijuana ice creams,
marijuana brownies, etc.”
That is scary.
Let’s take a look at what
New Jersey legislators said:
“It will devastate the African
American community,”
Bishop Jethro James of Paradise
Baptist Church in Newark
told lawmakers about legalization
at the hearing last
week. “It will devastate any
chance of our children having
a future.”
Saying he won’t stand
by while Big Marijuana attempts
to profi t off of New Jersey’s
vulnerable communities,
Bishop Jethro C. James,
Jr., Senior Pastor of Paradise
Baptist Church in Newark
and President of the Newark/
North Jersey Committee of
Black Churchmen.
Make no mistake, legalizing
recreational marijuana
is not social justice – it’s social
injustice. What we need
is criminal justice reform, as
well as advanced education in
training of law enforcement to
address the disproportionate
arrests of minorities.
Ronald Rice, the veteran
Democratic state senator from
Newark’s west side, says he is
never in need of companionship.
After all, he points out
that Newark is one of New Jersey’s
most densely populated
communities. And New Jersey
is the nation’s most densely
populated state.
And yet, Rice says he feels
like a very lonely man these
days among Democrats.
After 33 years in the state
Senate, he has emerged as one
of the leading Democratic critics
of Gov. Phil Murphy’s campaign
to legalize marijuana.
BY LYNN GERBINO
Many thanks go to Deacon
John Murphy and Fort Schuyler
House for opening its doors
to us when we had to change
our meeting venue at the last
minute...We appreciate your
hospitality so much.
We would also like to thank
Radhy Miranda and Megan
Quirk, assistant vice presidents
of NYC Economic Development
Corporation who gave
a preliminary overview of the
ferry proposed for Ferry Point
Park. We do welcome it but
EDC has be address community
issues with an increase in
traffi c in the immediate area.
Our thanks also go to Councilman
Mark Gjonaj for arranging
this.
We also voted unanimously,
minus one abstention, to oppose
the proposed addict counseling
program at Miracle City,
2800 Bruckner Boulevard. Assemblyman
Michael Benedetto
sent a letter of opposition to the
state agency overseeing the application.
Thank you, Assemblyman
Benedetto.
Our next meeting will be
held on Tuesday, May 28, at 7:30
p.m. back at the Villa Barone.
We have a full line up of speakers.
Captain Thomas Fraser,
commander of the 45th Precinct,
will be there for his fi rst
visit; Matt Cruz, district manager
of Community Board 10,
will be there; and District Attorney
Darcel Clark will stop
by. Make sure you attend as
you will have the opportunity
to see what is going on in your
community.
We look forward to seeing
you all. If you need us, please
call us at (718) 823-0327 or you
can contact us on Facebook...
Throggs Neck Homeowners
Association.
Have a good week.
Bronx Jewish Center BBQ
The Bronx Jewish Center,
1969 Haight Avenue, will be
hosting a Community Barbecue
on Thursday, May 23 starting
at 6 p.m. sharp in honor of
the Holiday Of Lag Baomer.
Lag BaOmer, also known as
Lag B’Omer, is a Jewish holiday
celebrated on the 33rd day
of the Counting of the Omer,
which occurs on the 18th day
of the Hebrew month of Iyar.
This day marks the hillula
(celebration, interpreted by
some as anniversary of death)
of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai,
a Mishnaic sage and leading
disciple of Rabbi Akiva in the
2nd century, and the day on
which he revealed the deepest
secrets of kabbalah in the
form of the Zohar (Book of
Splendor), a landmark text of
Jewish mysticism.
This association has
spawned several well-known
customs and practices on Lag
BaOmer, including the lighting
of bonfi res, pilgrimages
to the tomb of Bar Yochai in
the northern Israeli town of
Meron, and various customs
at the tomb itself.
There will be live entertainment.
Please bring your
appetite.
/www.60plus.smoke-free.gov
/www.60plus.smoke-free.gov
/www.60plus.smoke-free.gov