Posted on 10/23/2002 4:16:02 PM PDT by SheLion
Mayor Bloomberg infuriated bodega owners yesterday by dismissing complaints that his cigarette tax is killing their businesses. Richard Lipsky, director of the Neighborhood Retail Alliance, said the tax is proving to be a loser for bodega owners and city coffers.
"I just find it inconceivable that you could equate people's lives - particularly children that buy cigarettes in bodegas - with a minor economic issue," he said yesterday. "Let's get serious!"
In July, Bloomberg boosted the cigarette tax to $1.50 per pack. He's also proposed a bill to ban smoking in all workplaces - including bars.
Jose Fernandez of the Bodega Owners Association called the mayor an "enemy of minority-owned businesses" and "a traitor."
"He said he would never increase the taxes on small businesses," Fernandez said.
Many customers buy cigarettes out of town, over the Internet or illegally on the street, Fernandez said.
"If cigarette purchases in bodegas is down because consumption is down, that's fantastic," Bloomberg said. "If it is down because people are finding other ways to buy cigarettes, that's a problem that the Department of Finance is addressing all the time."
Lipsky charged the city is holding back information that shows revenues from the tax have plummeted since it was enacted. In July, the city picked up $23 million in revenues from the tax.
Figures for September were not available yesterday, but Bloomberg spokesman Jordan Barowitz said the city was "on target" to meet its annual projection of $125 million.
"You believe revenue numbers from these people - the tobacco industry - who told you cigarette smoking is good for you?" Barowitz said.
Meanwhile, Bloomberg's war against tobacco took another turn when City Council Minority Leader James Oddo tried to cut in with his own smoking bill.
Oddo, who supports Bloomberg's broader ban, said that bill may not pass the Council.
"I simply believe that we can take tangible steps to protect workers now," Oddo said in his letter to Miller. "We cannot let the perfect become the enemy of the good
What good are "workers" if there aren't that many customers to wait on?
Why don't you go over to Russia with the Mayor to live! You might be happier with Big Brother's eye on you!
Makes a lot of sense, doesn't it! Everything that needs fixing in NYC, and all BloomingIdiot can see are CIGARETTES! I don't say Stamp out Butts, I say STAMP OUT BLOOMINGIDIOT!
If he believed this, even in the slightest, he would be morally obliged to BAN cigarettes, rather than TAX THEM THEREBY PROFITING FROM DEATH. The worst kind of hypocrit. It is despicable. You can add me to the ANGRY WHITE MALE list, because I honestly HATE people like this, and am not agraid to say so.
Either BAN cigarettes OR SHUT THE BLEEEEEEEEEEEP UP!!!!!
Too much money involved for "them" to ban it. After over a hundred years, now they come up with tax the smokers to high heaven, while making it "politically INcorrect" to smoke. Dump on the smoker while robbing him blind.
What's Bloomberg been smoking? Whether or not some bodegas sell cigarettes to minors has nothing to do with the tax issue! Some bodegas also sell booze to minors, but I don't see Bloomy demanding a new tax on alcohol!
Reminder......... It's a legal product.
Hey, wimp! Is this another hit and run? Don't have the cojones to stick around and debate your asinine comments?
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