New York Tobacco Tax, A Call To Action

[nyisles]

New York City is under siege. Governor Patterson is seeking to put people out of work and shut down small businesses throughout the state. A proposed raise in the Cigar Tax to 75% percent is being pushed through the senate. Sadly our government believes raising the cigar tax will help increase revenue when it has been statistically proven to have a negative effect. Only this time around it will cost jobs and shut down many small business throughout the state.

The first casualty has come in Kingston, where Uptown Cigar Company is closing it’s doors and adding to an already staggering unemployment rate. If you live in New York, Work in New York or even visit New York you must call our so called leaders of the state and let them know that you will be taking your business out of state. As a cigar smoker who pays taxes, and for his own health insurance out of pocket I have noticed my in state purchases drop off about 60% since the last increase. The current increase will have me buying cigars in Florida, Pennsylvania and even New Jersey where they have a lower tax rate.

CRA is urging all members contact the legislative leadership noted below, and the governor’s office, to voice your opposition to this tax increase on cigars.

Sheldon Silver, Speaker
Email: Sheldon Silver
Telephone: 212-312-1420
Postal Address:
250 Broadway
Suite 2307
New York, NY 10007

John Sampson, Senator
Email: John Sampson
Telephone: 718-649-7653
Postal Address:
1222 East 96th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11236

Governor David Paterson
Email: Governor David Paterson
Telephone: 518-474-8390
Postal Address:
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224

Pedro Espada, Senator
Email: Pedro Espada
Telephone: 518-455-3395
Postal Address:
Capitol Building
Room 420
Albany, NY 12247

Carl Kruger, Senator
Email: Carl Kruger
Telephone: 718-743-8610
Postal Address:
2201 Avenue U
Brooklyn, NY 11229

Malcolm A. Smith, Senator
Email: Malcolm A. Smith
Telephone: 718-528-4290
Postal Address:
205-19 Linden Boulevard
St. Albans, NY 11412

Jeffrey D. Klein, Senator
Email: Jeffrey D. Klein
Telephone: 718-822-2049
Postal Address:
Capitol Building Room 427
Albany, New York 12247

Eric Adams, Senator
Email: Eric Adams
Telephone: 718-284-4700
Postal Address:
572 Flatbush Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11225

 

[MadMonk]

They know damn well this won't raise money. Call a spade a spade. It is votes, and anti-tobacco, big insurance, etc.
Swatting Gnats and swallowing Camel's.

 

["K"]

Its 90% total, my local B&M in Albany had a press conference on it recently; http://www.wten.com/global/story.asp?s=12615666

I think ultimately 90% is just too obscured, and will probably not happen.
But heh, they say 90%, then "compromise" on 70% so we will be more willing to accept it.

But in anycase, smoking causes cancer and Brain FEVER!! :0

 

[w00ts!te]

Everyone should call and speak your mind.

 

[Peekay]

Those city taxes on tobacco don't work. NPR was talking about this the other day and said that someone was collecting empty packs of smokes in Chicago and 75% did not have the city tax stamp, meaning they did not pay the Chicago tax, even though they were consumed in the city.

 

[MarkQ]

It's politically correct to pick the pockets of smokers. The local B&M is just hanging on. They're only open 3 days a week and aren't making any money. The owners have other jobs a basically do it for fun. Someday soon I expect to see a going out of business sign on the door. Over 99% of my purchases are out of state now. If they keep raising taxes and/or find a way to tax out of state purchases then a larger portion of my business will be sent to overseas suppliers.