New York Has Another Thing Coming with Anti-Tobacco Legislation
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Kevin Godbee - Jan 29, 2010
- 2 min read
New York’s Professional Tobacconists Organize to Battle Local and State Legislation
Source: Jorge Armenteros – Tobacconist University
Cigar Rights of America Facilitates Formation of New York’s First State Tobacconist Association
New York City, New York – In an historic gathering of statewide professional tobacconists, a group of over two dozen retail tobacconists gathered at the Grand Havana Room in New York City to launch the New York Tobacconist Association (NYTA).
With the onslaught of anti-tobacco ordinances and legislation, the coalition of traditional competitors are coming together to combat further intrusion into their businesses, to oppose measures that can impact the product choices of their patrons, to address the cost of both doing business in New York, and the cost of goods to their customers.
As noted by Ron Melendi, General Manager of De La Concha tobacconists of New York City, "It’s time for our voices to be heard. For too long, we have let our representatives pass laws that adversely affect our businesses, and the ability of our customers to enjoy a perfectly legal array of products. It’s time to say enough is enough." Melendi was named the founding chairman of the NYTA.
The New York effort is being assisted by Cigar Rights of America (CRA) as a national consumer-based organization for cigar enthusiasts. CRA Executive Director Glynn Loope was present at the organizational meeting, stating "Each of these shops represent thousands of customers. Now, they are voters for the cause. We will educate them about how their representatives vote, about the legislation they introduce, and work to halt this Prohibition Era style of policies flowing from New York City to Albany."
With the recently adopted flavored tobacco ban central to the group’s concern, there will be a comprehensive agenda of issues to be addressed. In addition to the flavored tobacco issue, the group will address fees and taxation, regulatory matters, and any further indoor or outdoor smoking restrictions.
The New York Tobacconist Association elected a charter board of directors, adopted by-laws, and heard a presentation from the firm Gotham Government Relations on lobbying on local and state issues.
The group initiated an ‘open door’ policy that any premium licensed tobacconist in New York can join the group, with a plan for statewide recruitment underway for consumer members joining Cigar Rights of America, and retail tobacconists joining the NYTA.
Interested Tobacconists can contact Ron Melendi at melendi@delaconcha.com
Ron Melendi – De La Concha General Manager & Founding Chairman of the NYTA
Written by Kevin Godbee
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This is great! We as tobacco enthusiasts are starting to get organized and stand up for ourselves!
If you are a tobacconist in New York, make sure that you join NYTA and start fighting back!
Also, we need to start this type of organization in every state!
Another interesting movement I saw forming was the “Tobacconist Preservation Act”. The point of it is that tobacconists are a time-honored profession with roots many centuries old.
We tend to forget that tobacco was one of the major industries responsible for the initial colonization of this country.
what if i’m but a humble pipe smoker in a different part of NY?? is there something i can do?? i’m sick of ol’ chuckie and Paterson telling me what i’m allowed to enjoy as a law abiding New Yorker…