Yonkers Insider: Statement from New York State Assemblyman Nader Sayegh 90th District.

 

Assemblyman Sayegh Supports Veto of Flavored Tabacco Ban.

Statement by Assemblyman Sayegh: “I commend Westchester County Executive George Latimer on his decision to veto a ban on all flavored tobacco products.  While I wholeheartedly support efforts to curb smoking among all populations, I reject the notion that excessively punitive and prohibitive bans, which disproportionately impact small businesses, are the most suitable course of action to accomplish this goal. Westchester smokers have already observed a decline in available options due to bans on flavored e-cigarette liquids and vaping, which had been instrumental in the empirical decrease in tobacco usage over the last decade.  I find it hypocritical that as we are about to open the market for safe cannabis consumption on the premise that we have created a robust system of accountability predicated on personal responsibility, we are abruptly curtailing the availability of products already available through a similar regulatory framework. If the existing ban on e-cigarette liquids and vaping offer any insight, this bill will only bolster a growing black market proliferated by unsafe alternatives. I look forward to returning to Albany and affirming my support for proven actions to curtail smoking among young people and those in vulnerable communities.”