Ithaca (NY) Common Council considers ordinance to reduce number of tobacco retailers

[Bill Godshall]

City of Ithaca (NY) Common Council considers ordinance to require tobacco retailers to post inaccurate signs (that may violate FCLAA) stating "tobacco USE HARMS YOU AND LOVED ONES NOW. IT MAY KILL YOU LATER", would charge tobacco retailers $500 annual permit fee, would require elimination of two existing permits before any new permit approved, would prohibit permits for new retailers within 500 feet of another tobacco retailer or school, would ban retailers from displaying tobacco products or paraphernalia visible through windows (which may be unconstitutional).
http://www.theithacajournal.com/assets/doc/CB194628914.DOC (Proposed Ordinance)
http://www.theithacajournal.com/article/20120914/NEWS01/309130097/Downtown-Ithaca-Alliance-targets-smoke-shops?
City of Ithaca, NY - City Officials (Ithica Common Council)


Seems like anti pot extremists are teaming up with anti tobacco extremists in urging Ithaca Common Council to enact this ordinance.

As recently occurred in Haverstraw (NY), I suspect that Ithaca will be sued if it enacts the proposed ordinance, and I suspect that Ithaca Common Council will quickly rescind the ordinance if they are sued.

Haverstraw (NY) rescinds unconstitutional tobacco retail display ban
http://www.rocklandtimes.com/2012/07/16/smoked-out-haverstraw-village-to-drop-anti-tobacco-ordinance/
http://www.cspnet.com/news/tobacco/articles/haverstraw-ny-pulling-plug-tobacco-display-ban
http://www.rocklandtimes.com/2012/07/19/tobacco-industry-squashes-villages-ordinance/


So, should I bother informing Ithaca Common Council that they are likely to be sued and lose, or should I let them find out the hard (and more expensive) way?

 

[Fiamma]

Lol Bill, organize the tobacco retailers and let them know they CAN sue and on what grounds.

 

[martinc]

I say let them bask in the glow of their ignorance.

If they think they are better...or if they failed to research the bill....

 

[NorthOfAtlanta]

I'd let them get their knuckles slapped, it usually creates more press and the locals pols have egg on their face.

 

[JENerationX]

I vote for organizing the retailers and watching the knuckle slapping.