Hearing in New York, Smoking on Docket
corrected: September 21
A public hearing conducted by the New York State Senate Health Committee will take place this week. "All cigar shops owners are going to be there," said Billy Fakih of the Cigar Inn, writing on Facebook, "but it's not enough. We need everybody to come with us. Cigar aficionados, we ask you to make the time and come with us to fight this infringing proposal that robs us from our basic human right."
The meeting, to be held Thursday at 10 a.m., will take place at 250 Broadway on the 19th floor. The stated purpose is: "To learn how the State's regulation of smoking and tobacco products works to improve the health of all New Yorkers. ... Are we doing enough?"
Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently put before the New York City Council a proposal to stiffen the already tough municipal smoking ban by making it illegal to smoke a cigar, cigarette or pipe in a public park or on a public beach in the city, a law that would place more than 1,700 public places off limits to cigar smokers.
