NYS Tobacco Tax and You

We at the Huntington Humidor wanted to bring you, our valued customers, to attention regarding the recent heinous event that has taken place in Albany.  In case you are unaware as to what has happened, NYS Law Officials have just passed a tax that will increase the current tobacco tax rate from 46% to an appalling 75%.

We have been part of the fight to protect your rights to enjoy Premium Hand-rolled Cigars for some time now, and brothers, when I tell you that we need your help now more than ever, I mean we need your help now more than ever. 

In current news, NYS just declined the proposed tax cap of a dollar on premium cigars.  The current rate stands at the rate of 75%!  This is just outrageous, unfair and unjust!  Tell Albany 'Enough is enough!"  Take a stand against this appalling abuse of power and tell NYS we won't put up with this any longer!  Fight the good fight and smoke you're cigars with pride!

More recently, the town of Huntington passed an ordinance declaring smoking in parks or public recreational areas, like basketball and tennis courts, illegal... now they are proposing to make it illegal to smoke on public sidewalks!  We at the Huntington Humidor have been able to enjoy the warm summer nights outdoors for the past decade; calmly and respectably enjoying our cigars in peace and in companionship.  Now they want to take that little luxury away from us!  It's time to take action! 

Recent events in Albany only prove to us that the Governor and the Senate are NOT listening.  They claim that this new tax is for “the benefit of all” and that it will discourage “minors from smoking”.  But what about you?  How is this new tax going to impact you?  Unfortunately, the answer is negatively.  Already, I can tell you, the price of many of your favorite brands will go up; all thanks to this new Tobacco Tax.  Mind you, this is a TAX, not a price bump.  The only people making a profit here is the New York State Tax Department.

As a result, we here at the Huntington Humidor will continue to offer high quality product at affordable and competitive prices; and in these next few months, we will do our best to keep prices at an acceptable level so that you may still be able to enjoy all of your favorite brands.  

We have voiced our opinions, we have spoken our minds and we have fought tooth and nail with the powers that be.  Now, it is up to you.  You must now help us and join in the fight!  Without your help, our rights and freedoms to enjoy our favorite cigars will become very difficult to do.  If we don’t fix the problem now, we will all pay the price. 

Below, you will find a link to the Cigar Rights of America website, and we encourage you to join!  From here you will receive current, up to date information regarding New York States Legislature and any and all information regarding Cigars and new taxes and laws. 

 www.cigarrights.org

As an example, here is a letter that was written and sent by our very own shop owner and cigar enthusiast, David Bethiel, to several Senators protesting this new tax.  Please take some time to read it, and then please send Albany a letter of your own!  Together we can make a difference.  Together we can defend your rights, and your neighbors rights and the rights of every citizen.  Help us stop this before it is too late!

Defend your Rights, because they are yours to defend!

From: the Desk of Mr. David Bethiel; President of S.T. Cigars Unlimited, Ltd. d.b.a. The Huntington Humidor

To: and with Special Attention: Senator Pedro Espada, Senator Carl Kruger, Senator Malcolm Smith, Senator Jeff Klein, Senator John Sampson, Assemblyman Sheldon Silver and Mr. Eric Adams

Gentlemen,

By now, you have probably heard every possible complaint in favor and against the tobacco tax legislation.

By now, you have thought through every conceivable rationalization in favor and against tobacco tax legislation. Or have you ?

By now, you should have come to realize that you have an obligation to uphold your office and the duties associated with being a representative of the will of your constituency, with an even greater responsibility to uphold the principles that this country was founded on.

Not a stooge of the ‘acting’ governor ! A man who garners so little respect, that it was a foregone conclusion that he would not ever be elected to the position, so no pretense was even made to pursue such.

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Remember those words ?? Do you stand for them ?

Never forget who this man is and how he is now able to bully you and this state into his limited view. Recognize the small minded strong arm techniques of a schoolyard bully who does not wield the influence nor the charisma to forge consensus. A thug who is willing and able to hold a gun to our collective heads, because he lacks the skill to govern. He is nothing more than an imminent memory. Bowing down to a weak excuse of a leader belittles every one of you who cows down to his tactics.

What are you saying to yourselves ? “We must play his game or government will shut down ?” You are in the lofty position that you hold because you have been deemed to possess the fortitude to make tough decisions as LEADERS of this state ! If you bend to the antics of the schoolyard bully, then you are showing yourselves to be weaker than he ! Show some backbone ! We’d all be better off with some strong leadership, even if that means that we go through some pain. Shut down the government if you must, but jeez, would somebody stand up and be a leader already ?

Unfortunately, I and many others like me, have been disgusted by the pandering and general lack of leadership that has been exhibited by our elected officials. When did you forget what this country was founded on ? How do you sleep at night, knowing that you are selling out the very principles that formed this great country ?

Stop following in the footsteps of a weak and inconsequential figurehead, like the soon to be ex-acting-governor.

There are only two issues to consider with the tobacco tax:

1)      Tax revenues

2)      Health factors

Do you dispute this simple truth ? How difficult is it to think this through ?

In the first case, any savvy businessman knows that abusing a tax in the fashion being contemplated will have devastatingly contradictory results to the stated intention of raising tax revenue.

-          Therefore, you will not accomplish the stated goal

-          You will irreparably harm any number of small businesses

-          You will in fact, damage the economy even more

-          Big tobacco, will not suffer at all, as sales simply shift to our neighboring states and the internet

-          These facts are not only self evident, but they are backed up by the simplest of economic models and practical experience

In the second case, you may have a small opportunity to rationalize some personal comfort that you are standing for some greater good on behalf of all people, however you forget your place !

-          If your stated intention is for such health measures, then how can you ignore the significantly more dangerous considerations of alcohol ?

-          Who are you to decide for anyone, what they may or may not choose as their personal leisure ?

-          What role does government have in legislating away an undesirable activity through grotesquely abusive taxation policy ?

-          While you’re at it, why not tax pornography ?

-          What else don’t you like ? Let’s tax that too !

Gentlemen, this situation is simple. Whether you stand for this tax or not, it is not appropriate on every level imaginable, to vote for it. You owe it to the constitution to resist the abusive action this legislation represents. Tyrants and Dictators behave as the ‘acting’ Governor is. Is that what you stand for ?

David Bethiel