Cigar News: The Week In Review

New York is under siege. Governor Patterson is seeking to put people out of work and shut down small businesses throughout the state. A proposed raise in the Cigar Tax to 75% percent is being pushed through the senate. Sadly our government believes raising the cigar tax will help increase revenue when it has been statistically proven to have a negative effect. Only this time around it will cost jobs and shut down many small business throughout the state.

The first casualty has come in Kingston, where Uptown Cigar Company is closing it’s doors and adding to an already staggering unemployment rate. If you live in New York, Work in New York or even visit New York you must call our so called leaders of the state and let them know that you will be taking your business out of state. As a cigar smoker who pays taxes, and for his own health insurance out of pocket I have noticed my in state purchases drop off about 60% since the last increase. The current increase will have me buying cigars in Florida, Pennsylvania and even New Jersey where they have a lower tax rate.

Here is what the head of the New York Tobacconist Association had to say in a piece from ABC News:

But it doesn’t stop there here is what NYC Davidoff Manage Michael Herklots had to say on the matter

CRA is urging all members contact the legislative leadership noted below, and the governor’s office, to voice your opposition to this tax increase on cigars.

	Sheldon Silver, Speaker Email: Sheldon Silver Telephone: 212-312-1420 Postal Address: 250 Broadway Suite 2307 New York, NY 10007
	John Sampson, Senator Email: John Sampson Telephone: 718-649-7653 Postal Address: 1222 East 96th Street Brooklyn, NY 11236
	Governor David Paterson Email: Governor David Paterson Telephone: 518-474-8390 Postal Address: State Capitol Albany, NY 12224
	Pedro Espada, Senator Email: Pedro Espada Telephone: 518-455-3395 Postal Address: Capitol Building Room 420 Albany, NY 12247
	Carl Kruger, Senator Email: Carl Kruger Telephone: 718-743-8610 Postal Address: 2201 Avenue U Brooklyn, NY 11229
	Malcolm A. Smith, Senator Email: Malcolm A. Smith Telephone: 718-528-4290 Postal Address: 205-19 Linden Boulevard St. Albans, NY 11412
	Jeffrey D. Klein, Senator Email: Jeffrey D. Klein Telephone: 718-822-2049 Postal Address: Capitol Building Room 427 Albany, New York 12247
	Eric Adams, Senator Email: Eric Adams Telephone: 718-284-4700 Postal Address: 572 Flatbush Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11225