The coalition supporting the ban consists of the American Most cancers Society and the Marketing campaign for Tobacco-Free Children, a number one antismoking group that has acquired tens of millions of {dollars} from former Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. The group has paid almost $1.15 million in January and February to at least one lobbying agency, Pythia Public, for a multimedia, pro-ban advert blitz.
A lot of the adverts characteristic heartfelt testimonials from New Yorkers who’ve misplaced family members to lung most cancers, together with Hazel Dukes, the president of the state N.A.A.C.P., and a staunch ally of Ms. Hochul’s.
“This is without doubt one of the uncommon occasions when, on the cash aspect, it’s a good combat,” stated Blair Horner, the chief lobbyist for the New York Public Curiosity Analysis Group, a nonpartisan shopper group that helps the ban. “The science on menthol cigarettes isn’t in query, it’s simply the politics.”
Many of the public opposition to the ban has come not from tobacco corporations however from the state’s 8,000 comfort shops, which closely depend on cigarette gross sales.
“While you’re speaking about 30 % of our gross sales, I’m going to die on that hill to attempt to stop that,” stated Kent Sopris, the president of the New York Affiliation of Comfort Shops, a commerce group that has spent at the least $11,000 on digital and social media adverts that includes ominous warnings {that a} ban would result in the prison smuggling of cigarettes and declaring that “prohibition doesn’t work.”