Grades have not changed from a year ago for Nevada County’s efforts to reduce exposure to second-hand smoke. The American Lung Association once again gives Grass Valley and Nevada City F’s for having smoke-free housing, although the county recently announced stepping up a campaign to increase the number of apartment complexes with indoor smoking bans. But both towns get C’s for the second straight year for smoke-free outdoor air policies. A tobacco policy analyst for the Association, Diana Douglas, says there has been some improvement for the county, but not enough to change the grades…

click to listen to Diana Douglas

Outdoor smoking policies the Association looks at include dining areas at restaurants, entryways, public events, including Farmers Markets, and recreation areas, including parks. Nevada City was also singled out in the overall report for a new tobacco licensing policy it passed last year…

click to listen to Diana Douglas

Grass Valley and Nevada City also, again, received A’s for reducing youth access to tobacco. Meanwhile, statewide…Douglas says for the first time in the history of the report, more than 20 cities and counties received an overall A grade, with 12 fewer F’s handed out.