Dozens of residents and public‑health advocates urged the South Pasadena City Council on Nov. 5 to return to work on a comprehensive tobacco retail licensing ordinance that would restrict flavored tobacco products, require compliance checks and fund enforcement.

Speakers representing the Breathe Clean South Pasadena Coalition, LA General Medical Center Foundation, UCLA anti‑vaping groups, the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society urged the council to match model TRL language (including the Public Health Law Center model) and to close gaps the speakers said remain in local tobacco regulations. Commenters said neighboring cities (Alhambra, Pasadena, Los Angeles) have moved to stronger local restrictions and asked South Pasadena not to lag behind.

Public commenters presented local survey and retail‑scan numbers: coalition representatives said they surveyed more than 500 residents and found roughly 90% of respondents were concerned about flavored tobacco marketing to youth; a scan of local tobacco retailers identified flavored products on display in about 80% of stores. Health professionals emphasized enforcement elements such as an adequate licensing fee to cover program administration, a set number of compliance checks annually and penalties that hold licensees accountable.

A number of individual speakers framed the issue personally. Ten‑year‑old Dylan Rubin told the council, “I am 10 years old … I don’t want teens and youth to have easy access to purchase tobacco and vaping products here in beautiful South Pasadena. Please don’t wait any longer.” Dr. Carolyn Kalustian of the American Heart Association urged adoption of an ordinance modeled on the Public Health Law Center’s guidance and recommended no exemptions for flavored products.

Speakers also asked the council to prioritize getting a draft ordinance back on the calendar and to allocate staff time and enforcement funding. City staff and the City Manager acknowledged the prior council discussion (about a year earlier) and said staff and the city attorney are preparing analyses; no formal action on a TRL was taken at the Nov. 5 meeting.

What’s next: Council members were reminded that a TRL update was discussed previously and that staff will return with analysis; community groups signaled intent to continue advocacy and to provide research and model language to staff.