Smoking and tobacco-related illnesses have been a major public health issue, particularly in recent years as more lawsuits were brought by individuals and entities against the tobacco industry. The attorneys general of most States and the major United States tobacco companies agreed to settle more than 40 pending lawsuits brought by States against the tobacco industry. In exchange for dropping their lawsuits, and agreeing not to sue in the future, the States will receive billions of dollars in payments from the tobacco companies. Further, the companies will restrict their marketing activities and establish new efforts to curb tobacco consumption. The City, along with the other States and local government entities, joined in the settlement.
On June 27, 2000, the City Council adopted an ordinance establishing a special fund (Anti-Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement Revenue Fund) for receipt and use of tobacco settlement funds. On September 5, 2000, the City Council approved an allocation plan, timeline, criteria, and funding priorities for the use of these funds, hereafter referred to as the Healthy Neighborhoods Venture Fund (H.N.V.F.) Program.
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