Interim Fresno Police Chief Mindy Casto speaks at a news conference about a tobacco grant Monday, behind here (from left) are Miguel Arias, Nelson Esparza, Andrew Janz and Det. Eryk Lysdahl. Photo by Frank Lopez
Written by Frank Lopez
Millions of dollars are coming to Fresno to help combat the illegal sale of tobacco products.
Fresno City Council members, along with law enforcement officials, held a news conference Monday to announce that the city’s code enforcement division of the city attorney’s office and the Fresno Police department will receive a $1.4 million grant to enforce state and local laws related to retail sales of tobacco.
The funding aims to ensure the reduction of illegal retail sales and marketing of cigarettes and tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to minors.
The city attorney’s office and police department will team up to provide education to retail owners, perform inspections for compliance and licensing and impose fines to those found in violation.
City Attorney Andrew Janz said that during the city’s random smoke shop inspections, large quantities of illegal tobacco have been sold in 87% of the shops inspected.
Janz said the state continues to watch the illegal tobacco sales situation in Fresno, and that they have faith in the city’s departments to enforce state laws.
“This grant will fund over 300 retail inspections over the next three years, with 15 decoy operations, and 300 retail education sessions,” Janz said.
Janz said his office has been approached by representatives of local smoke shops under investigation who have asked for more time to cure their violations.
“My message to these operators is this: you have been warned,” Janz said. “Selling flavored tobacco disproportionately targets our youth and violates state law.”
He said any smoke shops that continue to engage in the illegal sale of tobacco products will be fined and shut down.
Property owners and landlords that continue to allow their tenants to operate illegally will be issued fines and have liens placed against their properties.
Last October, Councilmembers Miguel Arias, Nelson Esparza and Perea said they planned to introduce an ordinance that would require a conditional use permit to operate a retail tobacco shop.
The ordinance could eliminate nearly 70% of the current neighbor smoke shops in operation city wide, Arias said in a news release.
The ordinance is still being drafted, Arias said.
Arias said there has been pushback from the Fresno Chamber of Commerce and other interest groups, including property owners. He said they reap financial benefits from such tenants, even though some are engaged in illegal activities.
“Ultimately, this [ordinance] will result in a vast majority of these smoke shops being shut down from operations, and limit future smoke shops from operating within each district to a minimal amount that can be regulated and supervised,” Arias said.
Fresno Police Department Chief Mindy Castro said the department works best when they work with other city departments, and will mostly assist in the safety and tactical portions of operations.
“Our goal will be to undertake the operations and make sure we maintain safety for our code enforcement officers and these children that are facing these sales,” Castro said.
Janz said that some of the smoke shops selling illegal tobacco products were also hosting illegal gambling and had the presence of firearms and drugs, including fentanyl.
Fines could cost up to $10,000 dollars, but the city will go on a case by case basis.
The proposal is expected to come before council by the end of this year.