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The Korean-American Small Business Service launched a petition drive to collect 100,000 signatures challenging Mayor Michael Bloombergs proposal to increase the cigarette tax increase.
Mr. Sung Soo Kim, director of the Service, proposed a media campaign to publicize the negative aspects of the cigarette tax increase. On May 8, the Korean American Small Business Service plans to lobby all 51 members of the City Council.
Starting on the 24, we began to send petition letters to cigarette stores, Mr. Kim said. He is confident about the campaign. In order to reach the goal, all we have to do is to get 250 signatures from 400 stores.
He expects the campaign will be well received by customers. Customers are angry about the proposed increase, too Mr. Kim added.
In an opinion piece submitted to the New York Daily News, Mr. Kim voiced a strong objection. In a local bodega or greengrocer, the sale of cigarettes can constitute as much as 20 percent of the gross receipts. Mr. Kim noted that a confiscatory rise in the city's cigarette taxan increase to a whopping $1.50 a pack from the current 8 cents will have adverse effect on small stores revenue.
Mayor Bloomberg has taken great pains to defend his proposal as not really a tax increase, but a public health measure. But Mr. Kim pointed out that the mayor took the $186 million the city received from the tobacco settlementmoney intended to fund smoking prevention programsand diverted the money while eliminating the programs. Mr. Kim also added that the tax increase will foster illegal cigarette trading.
Mr. Kim says he needs the support of at least 26 council members. So far, he has support from 13 of them.
Mr. Kim will meet Council members from theBronx shortly, and then will try to meet all of them on May 8.
Mr. Sung Soo Kim, director of the Service, proposed a media campaign to publicize the negative aspects of the cigarette tax increase. On May 8, the Korean American Small Business Service plans to lobby all 51 members of the City Council.
Starting on the 24, we began to send petition letters to cigarette stores, Mr. Kim said. He is confident about the campaign. In order to reach the goal, all we have to do is to get 250 signatures from 400 stores.
He expects the campaign will be well received by customers. Customers are angry about the proposed increase, too Mr. Kim added.
In an opinion piece submitted to the New York Daily News, Mr. Kim voiced a strong objection. In a local bodega or greengrocer, the sale of cigarettes can constitute as much as 20 percent of the gross receipts. Mr. Kim noted that a confiscatory rise in the city's cigarette taxan increase to a whopping $1.50 a pack from the current 8 cents will have adverse effect on small stores revenue.
Mayor Bloomberg has taken great pains to defend his proposal as not really a tax increase, but a public health measure. But Mr. Kim pointed out that the mayor took the $186 million the city received from the tobacco settlementmoney intended to fund smoking prevention programsand diverted the money while eliminating the programs. Mr. Kim also added that the tax increase will foster illegal cigarette trading.
Mr. Kim says he needs the support of at least 26 council members. So far, he has support from 13 of them.
Mr. Kim will meet Council members from theBronx shortly, and then will try to meet all of them on May 8.