April 3, 2007

Suozzi, Jacobs, Hooper & Health Advocates Call on Albany to Allow Nassau to Charge Cigarette Tax

-- As Part of 'Healthy Nassau,' $2 per-Pack Tax Will Discourage Smoking, as It Did in NYC

Mineola, N.Y. - In an effort to discourage smoking, Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi today joined elected officials and health advocates to call on Albany to authorize Nassau and several other counties to impose a tax on cigarettes. The push, similar to the recent successful cigarette tax in New York City, is a part of Suozzi’s “Healthy Nassau” campaign.

Suozzi was joined at today’s announcement by Nassau County Legislative Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs, who first proposed the cigarette tax, and Assemblymembers Charles Lavine (D-Glen Cove) and Earlene Hooper (D-Hempstead), who is sponsoring the bill in the Assembly. The measure needs State Legislative approval.

Smoking is responsible for nearly 1 in 5 deaths in the United States, and is also the largest single cause of cancer death in the nation, according to the American Cancer Society. That’s why discouraging smoking is a key element of Healthy Nassau, Suozzi’s campaign to make Nassau the healthiest county in the nation.

“Because cigarette smoking and tobacco use are acquired behaviors, or something that people choose to do, smoking is the most preventable cause of early death,” Suozzi said. “I want to do everything I can to discourage people from making the choice to smoke, and to quit smoking if they’re already hooked.”

Nassau County currently imposes none of its own taxes on tobacco products. A $2 tax on every pack of cigarettes sold in the County could bring an extra $26.1 million to $30.7 million into the County, according to an analysis by Nassau County Office of Legislative Budget Review.

“As legislators, we need to be creative in searching for new revenue streams that will help taxpayers, not hurt them,” said Presiding Officer Jacobs. “We have spent the past five years looking under every rock for savings, but it’s time for instituting long-term changes into the future. This tax would have the added benefit of improving our residents’ health.”

Health advocates strongly support the cigarette tax.

“Higher cigarette prices keeps this deadly product out of the reach of children and motivates adults to quit,” said Michael Seilback, Senior Director of Coalition & Policy at the American Lung Association of New York State, Inc. “We applaud the efforts being taken by Nassau County’s leaders to spearhead this effort and we urge the New York State Assembly and Senate to quickly pass this important legislation.”

“The American Cancer Society enthusiastically supports any initiative that will discourage people – especially young people – from smoking, or that encourages smokers to quit,” said Dee McCabe, Regional Vice President of the American Cancer Society. “An increase in the price of cigarettes should accomplish that objective.”

The County banned smoking in all workplaces, including restaurants, in 2003. And last year, the legal age to buy tobacco products in Nassau County was raised to 19.

New York City has been successful in imposing a $1.50 per-pack tax as part of its comprehensive anti-smoking initiative. The increase in price has reduced the number packs sold. City officials are currently seeking to add 50 cents to that $1.50 tax. If Nassau County is authorized to impose its own cigarette tax, city residents will have no reason to cross county borders for cheaper cigarettes.

If the bill is approved, a Nassau County cigarette tax would go into effect next year. The other counties that would be authorized to impose their own cigarette taxes are: Suffolk, Westchester, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Dutchess and Rennselaer.

Healthy Nassau builds upon existing initiatives and adds new ones in order to sustain a healthy environment (focusing on air, land and water), while encouraging healthy living (tending to bodies, minds and spirits). Along with discouraging smoking, Healthy Nassau initiatives include: working with other large municipalities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and explore mass transit options; continuing to preserve the County’s remaining open space; banning trans fats at the County’s restaurants, and creating an organic farm at Old Bethpage Village Restoration.