Thanks to efforts from the American Heart Association (AHA) resulting in nearly two dozen ballot choices nationwide, voters recently opted to reduce tobacco use, consume fewer sugar-laden beverages and support outdoor safety and accessibility.
AHA CEO Nancy Brown said that she was “inspired” by the advocacy of stakeholders in the health community to land healthy initiatives on the table for Election Day. Consequently, voters opted for taxes on tobacco and sweet drinks. Such taxes, she stated, will help reduce consumption of the harmful substances.
“We applaud voters for rejecting the big spending and false arguments of outsiders and standing up for what they knew was right for their community,” Brown said. “From sports drinks to sodas to fruit-flavored drinks, today’s children are drinking their age in these sugary drinks each week. Reducing consumption will improve rates of diabetes, heart disease and tooth decay.”
Ten jurisdictions saw positive decisions for outdoor activity. From California and Nevada to Texas, Georgia, North Carolina and up the east coast to Rhode Island and Maine, many cities’ inhabitants supported the creation or improvement of infrastructure designed to promote healthy physical activity such as safe bike lanes, sidewalks and crosswalks.
“Investing in heart health while preventing injuries, addiction and chronic diseases is a win-win for every city and state,” Brown said. “The American Heart Association stands with leaders striving for heart-healthy communities and applauds the voters who took a stand for the sake of their hearts and families this election.”
