David Schwartz and Queens City Councilman Eric Ulrich debate Manhattan City Councilwoman Gale Brewer and the city’s Health Commissioner Doctor Thomas Farley over a proposed smoking ban in New York City parks.

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David Schwartz, a lobbyist for the New York Tobacconists’ Association, debates Michael Seilback from the American Lung Association on whether the city should be allowed to ban smoking in public beaches and parks on Thursday’s edition of “Inside City Hall.”

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Tax-choked smokers are fleeing over the border and onto Indian reservations in search of discount cigarettes and sending Gov. Paterson’s anticipated tax windfall, well, up in smoke.

Cigarette sales statewide have tumbled by nearly a third since New York’s highest-in-the-nation cig tax of $4.35 took effect on July 1, according to state tax data and sales reports released yesterday by retailers.

Read the rest of the story in The New York Post

New York Tobacconists Association gathered to speak out against an increased state OTP tax that would put them out of business and would lose money for the state. Shot at De La Concha in Manhattan by the European Cigar Journal.

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For more information and to get involved, go to NYUpInSmoke.Org

The next terror attack on America could be a self-inflicted wound — specifically, a cigarette burn. Politicians expand tobacco taxes to discourage smoking and to feed their own nicotine-like addiction to public spending. Like so many others, this government action smolders with unintended consequences. Tobacco taxes create a perfect arbitrage opportunity that radical Muslims exploit to collect money for terrorist groups that murder Americans and our allies.

Read Entire Article at NPR