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27762 Antonio Pkwy Suite L1-463 <br />Ladera Ranch, CA 92694ocrtccwww.ochcc.org <br />ORANGE COUNTY HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE T: (714) 953-4289 <br />December 17, 2021 <br />Dear Mayor Sarmiento and members of the City Council, <br />The Orange County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has proudly represented businesses in <br />Orange County ranging from small neighborhood shops to large corporations for over 35 years. <br />We are writing to you today to urge you to continue the hearing on the ban of the sale of flavored <br />tobacco products to a later date, and oppose the ordinance when it comes before you. <br />The minority owned business community is integral to the everyday life of the people of Santa <br />Ana. Small businesses have been on the front lines of the Pandemic since its inception, and are <br />still struggling to recover from the financial burdens they have been faced with as a result. A <br />flavored tobacco ban is an overreaching and irresponsible prohibition on a legal product that is <br />sold by 89 responsible retailers in Santa Ana. Youth usage of cigarettes and flavored tobacco <br />products is at a generational low due to these responsible retailers abiding by the law and only <br />selling to consumers age 21 or older. This ban would inevitably contribute to these hard-working <br />retailers going out of business. <br />We care deeply about Santa Ana and our members that contribute to Santa Ana's business <br />community. We feel that we have not been given enough time to properly review this ordinance <br />and communicate with our members to prepare them for its negative repercussions. With that in <br />mind, we respectfully ask that you continue this ordinance to a later date. <br />We at the OCHCC thank you for your consideration of our collective concerns. <br />Sincerely, <br />Reuben Franco <br />President& CEO <br />Orange County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce