Casino smoking problems resurface in New Jersey
New Jersey Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald's remarks sparked the most recent disagreement. At last weekend's summit of the Southern New Jersey Development Council, he gave a speech. Greenwald reportedly told CEASE that economic worries and the possibility of job losses due to smoking bans take precedence over safeguarding casino employees from secondhand smoke.
What CEASE referred to as "debunked" estimates of employment losses were immediately disputed. On the contrary, the organisation implies that Greenwald's stance is linked to campaign donations.
According to a news statement from CEASE co-founder and Atlantic City table-game dealer Pete Naccarelli, "Majority Leader Greenwald has taken tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from Big Tobacco companies like Philip Morris." Thus, it should come as no surprise that he is intent on establishing smoking rooms sponsored by Philip Morris, which would persistently endanger our lives.
When it comes to passing legislation that would address the issue at hand, Greenwald has been a major roadblock. A bipartisan bill with widespread support will finally seal the smoking loophole in casinos and bring in more tourists to Atlantic City, who are currently avoiding the city due to the smoke. The majority leader should stop blocking this bill.
A call for floor votes has been joined by UAW.
In a joint statement, Naccarelli and Dan Vincente, the director of the United Auto Workers' Region 8 (which represents dealers in Atlantic City), urged Greenwald to hold a floor vote on A2143, a bill that would close the smoking loophole.
The next day, Naccarelli criticised Senate President Nicholas Scutari for his unwillingness to put S1493 to a vote on the floor. Here we have the smoking ban bill in its exact form as it was introduced in the Senate.
According to Naccarelli, Senate President Scutari ought not to procrastinate any further. "Our health is in jeopardy because of a compromise that was made 18 years ago, and now our leaders are just putting it off until later."
