A new law in the city of Syracuse restricts where tobacco shops are allowed to open.
Transcript
DV: DREW VONSCIO
KJ: KARYN JOHNSONDV: MAYOR BEN WALSH IS RESTRICTING WHERE TOBACCO RETAILERS ARE ALLOWED TO OPEN STORES.
ALL SELLERS MUST MAINTAIN A CITY TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE, BUT NEW STORES ARE NO LONGER ALLLOWED TO BE WITHIN 750 FEET OF SCHOOLS, PUBLIC PARKS, AND AN ALREADY EXISTING LICENSE HOLDER.
TOBACCO MARKETING IS A BIG CONCERN IN THE COMMUNITY AS MARKETING INCREASES NEAR LOCAL SCHOOLS, SOMETHING THAT HEALTH OFFICIALS KNOW IS BEING ADDRESSED…
KJ: “IT’S MORE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, OVER TIME, WE’LL SEE LESS TOBACCO RETAILERS SO WE’LL SEE LESS ADVERTISING.”
DV: AS WELL AS OTHER CONCERNS.
KJ: “PART OF THEIR LAW THAT THEY WROTE ALSO INCLUDES SOME ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES, SO THAT, YOU KNOW, IF THEY’RE NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES OF LIKE THE STATE GOVERNMENT AS FAR AS THEIR RETAIL LICENSING, THEN THERE’S MORE ABILITY TO TAKE AWAY THOSE LICENSES.”
DV: WHILE MOST OF THE ATTENTION WITH THE LAW FOCUSES ON NEW RETAILERS THAT ARE IN THE PROCESS OF OPENING OR WILL OPEN IN THE FUTURE, EXISTING ONES ARE NOT BEING AFFECTED BY THE LEGISLATURE…
UNLESS THEY FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE CITY’S LICENSING.
JOHNSON SAYS THAT’S ALL ANYONE CAN ASK FOR IN THE COMMUNITY.
KJ: WE’RE NOT TRYING TO ELIMINATE BUSINESSES THAT ARE DOING THE RIGHT THINGS. IT’S MORE ABOUT TAKING CARE OF THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE NOT DOING THE RIGHT THINGS. SO I THINK THAT’S REALLY WHAT THE PURPOSE OF THIS LAW IS, LIKE IF THEY’RE CONTINUING TO DO WHAT THEY’RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING, YOU KNOW, THEY’RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY PROBLEMS.”
DV: THE ONONDAGA COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT WANTS TO REMIND THOSE STRUGGLING WITH NICOTINE ADDICTION THAT THERE ARE RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR THEM LOCALLY.
REPORTING LIVE IN SYRACUSE, I’M DREW VONSCIO FOR N-C-C NEWS.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh is taking the next steps to reduce the number of teenagers getting involved with tobacco.
As of Oct. 1, new tobacco retailers are not allowed to open their stores within 750 feet of school zones, public parks and other tobacco stores. All stores now are required to have state tobacco licenses. The goal of these licenses is to reduce the amount of sales to those below the legal age. Prior to being signed by Mayor Walsh, the bill was unanimously approved the Syracuse Common Council.
“Part of their law that they wrote also includes some enforcement activities, so that, you know, if they’re not following the rules of like the state government as far as their retail licensing then there’s more ability to take away those licenses,” said Karyn Johnson, program coordinator for Tobacco-Free CNY.
The city’s goal is to reduce the number of retailers over time. As a result, new locations will only be granted a tobacco license when two existing licenses at other retailers expire or are revoked by the city.
The law put into place focuses primarily on new retailers with the current ones not subject to move from their existing locations. Already-existing retailers will only be subject to consequences with the city if they fail to comply with licensing requirements.
“We’re not trying to eliminate businesses that are doing the right things,” said Johnson. “It’s more about taking care of the businesses that are not doing the right things. So, I think that’s really what the purpose of the law is, like if they’re continuing to do what they’re supposed to be doing, you know, they’re not going to have any problems.”