According to a report from WBFO, concerned residents who care about their community attended a Buffalo City Council meeting to express their opposition to the sale of menthol tobacco and e-cigarette liquid in the city. Over a dozen community leaders and tobacco control advocates spoke at the meeting, highlighting their concerns about the tobacco industry's targeted recruitment of young people to create a new generation of smokers. They urged council members to use their local authority to achieve what they claim New York State has failed to do.
Karen Gordon, assistant lawyer for the court, stated that the municipal council does not have the legal authority to enforce a ban; however, they can take into account "time, place, and manner" when approving or rejecting tobacco retail licenses. For instance, the council can decide whether tobacco shops should be allowed to operate near schools.
Among those opposing this proposal is Elliot Boyce, a retired New York State police officer. Boyce believes that banning these products will harm the community, as tobacco users will simply visit neighboring areas to make their purchases, thereby reducing the tax revenue used to fund services and projects benefiting the residents of Buffalo. He argues that the only solution is through education, treatment, and counseling.
Senior tobacco control advocate Stan Martin and his colleagues have expressed their concern over the escalating healthcare costs and mortality rates. Approximately 45,000 African Americans die each year due to tobacco-related reasons. Given that African Americans make up more than 33% of Buffalo's population, Martin's ultimate goal is to remove these products from shelves.
City councilor Rasheed Wyatt has pledged to support this issue by "working with local organizations to send a strong message to our government." He argues that this problem has resulted in rising healthcare costs due to a lack of preventative measures. He also notes a recent increase in tobacco license applications in the city of Buffalo and an oversaturation of tobacco shops within the city.
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