Subject: Fwd: NYC C.L.A.S.H. Action Alert & News Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2003 08:39:05 -0400 To: lp_manhattan From: Bob Armstrong I plan to get to the event Thursday . --- Original Message --- From: "Audrey Silk" To: =A0 Cc: Sent: Sun, 27 Apr 2003 06:13:04 +0000 Subject: NYC C.L.A.S.H. Action Alert &=A0News >=A0Dear NYC C.L.A.S.H. Member, > >=A0First and foremost we'd like to apologize for what appeared to= be our absence over the past 3 weeks.=A0=A0We experienced a system= crash that would have been devastating had it not been for the= professional services of a data retrieval company.=A0=A0This= incident kept us from being able to communicate for that period= of time.=A0=A0We're back now and functioning at 100%.=A0=A0Thank you for= your patience.=A0=A0And welcome to the many new members who signed= up during that period. > >=A0We'd like to bring two items to your attention at the moment: > >=A01. A Forum on the NYC Smoking Ban Entitled "No Ifs, Ands, or= Butts" >=A02. Internet Sales Of Cigarettes - Update >=A01. JOIN US ON THURSDAY, MAY 1ST, at 7pm >=A0TO VOICE YOUR OBJECTIONS TO THE STATE BAN > >=A0Assemblymember Jonathan Bing presents a forum on the NYC= Smoking ban entitled No Ifs, Ands, or Butts on Thursday, May= 1st, Sutton Place Synagogue, 225 East 51st Street at 7:00= PM.=A0=A0The panel includes David Rabin, New York Nightlife= Association; Elena Deutsch, The American Cancer Society; Dr.= Arline Bronzaft, Sound Expert and a representative from the 17th= Precinct. > >=A0WE WILL BE THERE TO HAVE OUR VOICES HEARD > >=A0In addition to getting a chance to speak during the meeting we= would like to have protestors (like a picket line) outside the= building.=A0=A0We will only do that if we can attract at least 50= people.=A0=A0If you can commit yourself to attend, please write and= tell us (bing@nycclash.com)=A0=A0If we reach our goal we will go= forward with the outside protest and confirm this with you. You= may choose to come in and speak as well. > >=A0Need to get angrier first? Read more of what Assemblyman Bing= has to say about the ban: >=A0=A0=A0My vote in favor of this bill came after discussions with= numerous interested parties, including members of the New York= City Nightlife Association.=A0=A0As you probably know, the City's= anti-smoking bill took affect on April 1st and became law prior= to and regardless of New York=A0=A0State's passage of similar= legislation.=A0=A0Assuming for the sake of argument that curtailing= smoking in public places decreases business in these= establishments, New York City bars and restaurants could have= been adversely affected if the Legislature did not pass= corresponding anti-smoking legislation.=A0=A0People who wished to= have a smoking option may have planned their large-scale events= outside of New York City to avoid the smoking laws, thus= reducing desperately needed revenue for New York City's= restaurant=A0=A0and tourism industries.=A0=A0Creating a level playing= field for New York State is why the New York State Restaurant= Association supported the State legislation. > >=A0Moreover, there is ample evidence in support of this= anti-smoking legislation.=A0=A0Second-hand smoke-related illnesses= account for tens of thousands of deaths in the United States= every year.=A0=A0In this difficult economic climate, workers such as= bartenders and waitresses should not be=A0=A0forced to choose= between avoiding second hand smoke and taking a much-needed= job.=A0=A0Further, studies of localities that have implemented= anti-smoking laws have shown that business in affected= establishments has not decreased; in fact, business has risen as= non-smokers begin to frequent places they did not visit before= when they allowed smoking. > >=A0Like you, I am concerned about the anti-smoking legislation's= effect on New York City business.=A0=A0I have organized a public= forum on May 1 at Sutton Place Synagogue at 225 East 51st Street= at 7 p.m. to address the legislation's affect on our= community.=A0=A0The president of the Nightlife Association will be a= panelist and I hope you will be able to attend.=A0=A0I am also= working with other legislators to find ways that businesses= which spent significant resources to comply with current health= laws can amortize their payments >=A0over time so their capital investment receives maximum value. > >=A0Knowing how my constituents feel on the issues of the day is of= utmost importance to me.=A0=A0I applaud you for taking an active= role in the government and for taking a stand on this= issue.=A0=A0Please do not hesitate to contact me on any matter that= concerns you. > >=A0Very truly yours, >=A0Jonathan L. Bing >=A0Assembly Member >=A02. INTERNET SALES OF CIGARETTES > >=A0New Yorkers=92 Right to Buy Cigarettes Online May Not Go Up in= Smoke >=A0http://www.oltra.org/newsroom/oltrapr.htm > >=A0New Yorkers who purchase their cigarettes online may be saved= from a New York statute which would end Internet tobacco sales= to New York consumers.=A0=A0OLTRA (the Online Tobacco Retailers= Association), announced that OLTRA and three of its members,= along with two New York consumers, filed a lawsuit in the United= States District Court for the Western District of New York= against Governor George Pataki, New York Attorney General Eliot= Spitzer and Commissioner of Health Antonia Novello, seeking to= have New York Public Health Law =A71399-ll declared= unconstitutional. (April 2003) > >=A0There will be more interesting and exciting news coming to you= within the next few days.=A0=A0In the meantime, please seriously= consider joining us on May 1st.=A0=A0We can't make a difference= without your help. (The weather report for that day is sunny and= 66 degrees) > >=A0No Retreat, No Surrender >=A0=A0 > >=A0Audrey Silk >=A0NYC Citizens Lobbying Against Smoker Harassment >=A0(NYC C.L.A.S.H.) >=A0http://www.nycclash.com >=A0=A0 > >=A0If you would like to be removed from this list please reply= with "REMOVE" in the subject line and you will no longer= receive >=A0these updates. -- =A0Bob Armstrong -- http://CoSy.com -- 212-285-1864 Ultimate Computing Environment : =A0http://cosy.com/K/CoSy.htm A WTC vision : http://cosy.com/CoSy/ConicAllConnect/ =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A02003/04/29 8:36:05 AM