🚭 Let’s Make Capitola the Next to “Ban the Butt”!

Over the last year, the movement to eliminate toxic cigarette filters from our environment has made huge strides—and you made that happen. With strong community support, Surfrider Santa Cruz successfully helped push “Ban the Butt” policies through both the County of Santa Cruz and the City of Santa Cruz. 🙌

Now, we’re gearing up for one final and critical step: Capitola.

On August 28th, Capitola City Council will vote on whether to adopt a similar ban on the sale of single-use, plastic cigarette filters. If the policy passes, all three major jurisdictions in our region will be aligned—and a powerful step forward in protecting our ocean, beaches, and wildlife will be complete.

Here’s how you can help:

✅ Send a Letter of Support

Let Capitola’s elected officials know you support this policy! If you’ve already sent a letter to the County Board of Supervisors or the Santa Cruz City Council, simply modify it for Capitola. New letters are great too. Here’s an example support letter:

Capitola City Council
420 Capitola Ave.
Capitola, Ca 95010

Re: Ban on the sale of filtered tobacco products

DATE

Dear Mayor Clarke, Vice Mayor Morgan, and Council Members Jensen, Orbach and Westman

I am writing to you in support of the adoption of a policy that bans the sale of filtered, pre-rolled tobacco products including cigarettes, cigarillos, and little cigars, in the City of Capitola. This policy is critical to address one of the most persistent litter items in Capitola, the county of Santa Cruz and across the globe: cigarette butts.

[Add a paragraph here to personalize your letter and explain why this topic matters to you.] We believe there is community and local government support, decades of litter data, and the regional strategy to justify a strong policy that holds Big Tobacco responsible for its corporate pollution. Please ban filtered cigarettes.

Thank you for your continued environmental leadership.

📬 Where to send it:

• Email: citycouncil@ci.capitola.ca.us
• Mail: 420 Capitola Ave, Capitola, CA 95010

Address your letter to:

• Mayor Clarke, Vice-Mayor Morgan, and Council Members Jensen, Orbach, and Westman
• Subject line: I support a ban on the sale of filtered tobacco products

Deadline to send: August 22, 2025

🗣️ Show Up at the Meeting

Join us in person to demonstrate that our community cares about clean beaches and healthy ecosystems! The more voices in the room, the stronger our message.

• Where: Capitola City Council Chambers, 420 Capitola Ave
• When: Thursday, August 28 at 4:00 PM
• RSVP here: https://x.gldn.io/e/tvBru65tMVb

You can speak during public comment at the start of the meeting or during the agenda item itself.

If you’d like to join virtually, click here to learn more: City of Capitola Remote Council Meeting

📣 Bring a friend, make a sign, and raise your voice!

We’re expecting strong pushback from tobacco industry interests. That’s why we need YOU—our community—to stand together and support this simple but powerful policy. Let’s get this across the finish line and make Capitola the next city to Ban the Butt.

Together, we can protect our ocean, waves, and beaches for generations to come.

Surfrider Santa Cruz Chapter