Op Ed: Big Business Must Stop Taking Big Tobacco Money

united in our fight against Big Tobacco and help save Black lives. Tobacco companies are actively opposing public health measures aimed at protecting Black Americans from the harm caused by their products.

The Backstory

A 1953 study by Roper, B.W. found that only five percent of African Americans smoked menthol cigarettes. A 1968 poll of People’s Cigarette Smoking Habits and Attitudes by Philip Morris showed that menthol use among

Dr. Phillip Gardiner | Contributor

It’s hard to believe that with the amount of damage that the tobacco industry has inflicted on the Black community, that there are still Black organizations accepting their funding. By doing so, these Black organizations enable the tobacco industry to portray themselves as allies to our community. They help silence our voices and efforts aimed at encouraging policymakers to take specific steps to protect our people, thus becoming complicit in our death and disease.

The problem with accepting these funds is the tobacco industry has a history of targeting and exploiting vulnerable communities, especially Black communities, through predatory advertising and marketing tactics. Our people must be aware that accepting money from the tobacco industry contributes to the ongoing exploitation of our people through their predatory practices of marketing menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars.

The African American Control Tobacco Council is calling on Black organizations to be

Blacks had almost tripled to 14 percent. A report by Brown and Williamson in 1978 found that it had tripled again to 42 percent. By the 2000’s, over 80 percent of Black smokers used menthol cigarettes.

Today, 85 percent of Black adults and 94 percent of Black youth who smoke are using menthol products. These striking statistics arise from the success of the industry’s predatory marketing of these products in our community, where there are more advertisements, and most disturbingly, menthol cigarettes are cheaper compared to other communities. In 2022, the use of cigarettes, cigars and cigarillos was highest among Black youth. These practices, coupled with buying the silence of some Black spokespersons for the past 50 years, have led to Black Americans dying disproportionately from continued on page 13

Chad Bianco, continued from page 3 was taken to task for failing to protect those in custody during COVID-19, he allegedly promoted his brother over candidates with more qualifications, etc.

The list of grievances against the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) under Bianco’s leadership are as long as his arrogance and ignorance.

As Bonta noted, the investigation “will seek to determine whether RCSD has engaged in a pattern or practice of unconstitutional policing amid deeply concerning allegations relating to conditions of confinement in its jail facilities, excessive force, and other misconduct.”

Bianco believes it is all a witch hunt. Well, we will see. I think in his hubris he underestimated what can happen when a determined population bands together in pursuit of justice.

Bianco continues to believe his own hype regarding his reelection in a non-presidential year, gloating in his victory as if it resulted from some brilliant campaign strategy propelled by a delusion that it was an overwhelming vote of confidence from the community. This assessment, of course, is a result of his small mindedness in combination with his over inflated ego.

It does not take a political genius to know that the election results actually evolved from a perverse coalition of historical low voter turnouts in non-presidential election cycles, combined with the electoral benefits of incumbency and the strong financial backing of police unions. This is what ensured his reelection. Bianco obviously took his victory as a green light to maintain his dismissive attitude toward the growing concerns of the community.

Now, rather than being humbled and humiliated by the prospect of being investigated and potentially taken to task for his failures, he remains arrogant and defiant.

In responding to the announcement by Bonta, Bianco admitted he was surprised. How could he be with all of the concerns brought to his attention by individuals, nonprofits and the press?

Surprised? That certainly says a lot about his perception. Humbled? Not at all. In his response/rebuttal to Bonta he was accusatory and defiant claiming that Bonta “cares more about politics than he does about transparency and the truth.” continued on page 14

That is laughable coming from Bianco. After all, what organization could be more opaque than the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department?

CA Attorney General Rob Bonta Announces Investigation into Riverside Sheriff’s Department

by Gail Fry

At a press conference on Thursday February 23, California State Attorney General Rob Bonta announced he is opening an investigation into the Riverside Sheriff’s Department seeking to determine whether the sheriff's office has engaged in a pattern or practice of unconstitutional or unlawful policing.

Bonta explained that concerning levels of in custody deaths, troubling allegations of excessive force, Riverside jails reporting their deadliest year in two decades and other misconduct too, led to the State Attorney General’s decision to open an investigation into the Riverside Sheriff’s Department.

“This investigation comes amid deeply concerning allegations relating to conditions of confinement in the office’s jail facilities, excessive force, and other misconduct,” Bonta said. “These concerns have been repeatedly voiced by community leaders, members of the media, families of those who have lost loved ones and more.”

“Some communities don't see or feel they are being treated equitably by law enforcement. It contributes to distrust and hurts public safety,” Bonta acknowledged, explaining, “When there is trust, that trust in turn contributes to increased public safety.”

“Unfortunately, today's announcement is necessary because that trust between Riverside County Sheriff's Office and the community it serves is in peril,” Bonta said, “Bottom line

On whether you have a loved one in jail or are worried about crime in your neighborhood, we all benefit when there is action to ensure the integrity of policing in our state.”

“It is time for us to shine a light on the Riverside County Sheriff's Office and its practices,” Bonta declared.

“My office will use its full authority under the California Constitution to determine whether the sheriff's office has engaged in a pattern or a practice of violating state or federal law,” Bonta promised, adding, “And if so, identify and compel the correction of any systemic violations of the community's constitutional and civil rights, we are launching this investigation today.”

“So I need to be clear that at this time, we have made no determinations about specific allegations or complaints,” Bonta clarified, “In the days and months ahead, our investigation will be thorough, it will be comprehensive, it will be impartial.”

“We will work to ensure that the civil rights of the people of Riverside County are respected. all Californians deserve fairness and respect from the institutions that serve them,” Bonta voiced, “I encourage anyone with relevant information to please contact our civil rights enforcement section you can contact us by emailing police-practices@ doj.ca.gov..”

“In addition to English, members of the public may send information in Spanish and in other languages,” Bonta assured, “During the course of our investigation, we will work diligently to consider all relevant information including from community members, organizations, local officials, oversight entities, the sheriff's office itself and individual deputies will be again comprehensive and thorough.”

“I'm committed to this work to ensuring our residents and civil rights are protected to strengthening trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve,” Bonta confirmed. “It's a critical component of our broader efforts to increase public safety for all Californians. Ensuring public trust, and keeping our communities and officers safe is not mutually exclusive.”

Bonta concluded, “When we strengthen trust in policing, we keep our communities safer for officers, safer for residents, safer for all.”