Page 2 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2025 Board of Health discusses tobacco products’ effect on young people Advocate Staff Report B onny Carroll, director of the Six City Tobacco Initiative, met with the Board of Health at their last meeting to update them on the latest generation of nicotine products available in the city. Carroll brought a package of nicotine pouches and some electronic nicotine vapes to show board members. She described the high nicotine content in the products with packaging that includes neon colors and cartoon characters, which demonstrates that teens and young people are the targeted consumers. “We see these everywhere,” Carroll told the board. According to Carroll, research shows that addiction to nicotine is most powerful when it occurs in someone with an undeveloped brain. Carroll said the brain is considered fully developed at age 26. “These companies spend billions of dollars to market these products, and they know they are marketing to young people,” said Carroll. Board member Viviana Catano asked if there has been an increase in hospitalization of young people with health problems linked to new nicotine products. Carroll said that data wasn’t available but added, “There’s so much nicotine in these products, I can’t imagine they are not being poisoned.” Board Chair Dr. Drew Bunker reminded everyone that tobacco and nicotine products can lead to harmful addiction, mental health problems and issues with cardiovascular health. North Suffolk Public Health Collaborative The board voted to authoHappy Memorial Day Weekend! 2.79 24 Mid-grade Regular $3.37 24 Over 47 Years of Excellence! 1978 - 2025 Full Service ULS TRUCK STOP $2.73 Order online at angelosoil.com rize Bunker to sign an agreement with Winthrop and Chelsea outlining the governance of the North Suffolk Public Health Collaborative. Public Health Director Lauren Buck told board members that since Covid the state has been encouraging the regionalization of health services. The collaborative provides a regional epidemiologist and a regional public health nurse who is in RHS BUILDING | FROM Page 1 Viscay said it would be best to commit to the cut and work through the details later. Revere two days a week. The collaborative is overseen by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) and funded by the Public Health Excellence grant. Prior to this new agreement, each member community paid MAPC to run the collaborative. However, now under the new agreement, the Public Health Excellence grant will cover the cost of running the collaborative. Revere health by the numbers 16 — infl uenza cases in Revere for the month of May 15 — coronavirus cases in Revere for May 1 — a case of measles that Buck said was a direct contact case 34 — routine food inspections conducted 55 — violations issued for accumulation of trash, litter and debris “It’s very important for us to bring down the cost of this any way we can,” said Viscay. Mayor Patrick Keefe said the cut would not aff ect the bond 52 — violations issued for overfl owing dumpsters 101 — violations issued for unclean and unsanitary land, including overgrowth and vegetation. Director of Municipal Inspections & Health Agent Michael Wells reminded residents that we are in overgrowth season and lawns need to be maintained throughout the summer. Back on track The board voted to remove the condemnation of homes at 71 Pitcairn St. and 56 Ambrose St. According to Wells, since the board voted to condemn the properties, permits have been pulled and work has been done to rehabilitate the properties. “Sometimes the board has to make tough decisions,” said Wells. “But the result here is properties returned to habitable condition and blights [were] removed from neighborhoods.” authorization and the $10 million would move to the contingency account for any unexpected problems or costs. “It would move to project contingency, and it would live there, and we would try to never touch it,” said Brian Dakin, senior project manager. “We would be reserving it, never aiming to spend it,” he added. Keefe said that contracts for work on the building would be awarded on a percentage basis of the total budget. Thus a $10 million cut would lead to subsequent savings. Still some committee members resisted unspecifi ed cuts. Kelly suggested that because Viscay’s motion wasn’t on the agenda, a vote on it could be a violation of open meeting law. But Keefe said it was a voice motion and there was no violation of open meeting law involved. “I think it’s prudent of us to reduce the budget by $10 million,” said Keefe. “We’ll still be able to do everything we want to do. We will just make sure we can do it within our means.” FLEET CARD Check Out Our LOW PRICES!
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