New Yorkers to Rally to Restrict Flavored Tobacco on 10-Year Anniversary of Menthol Loophole

About 120,000 New Yorkers have died from smoking over the last decade

NEW YORK, NY (10/11/2019) (readMedia)-- On October 15th, the 10-year anniversary of the New York City Council's flawed 2009 flavored tobacco ban, Flavors Hook Kids NYC -- a coalition of parents, children, advocates, city leaders, and more than 100 organizations -- will rally to demand that the sale of all flavored tobacco products be restricted in New York, including menthol cigarettes and flavored e-cigarettes.

Ten years ago, the New York City Council approved legislation that prohibited the sale of chocolate, vanilla, honey, candy, cocoa, dessert, alcoholic beverage, herb or spice flavor tobacco products-- but exempted menthol, mint and wintergreen, which are among the most popular used by young people. Half of youth smokers smoke a menthol product.

New FDA survey data show youth use of e-cigarettes skyrocketed 135% in the last two years, and that five million middle and high school students nationwide now use e-cigarettes. Flavored e-cigarettes are the most popular type used by young people, and are also not covered by the City's 2009 tobacco flavors ban.

WHO:

NYC Councilman Cabrera

NYC Councilman Levine

André M. Richardson, Campaign Manager of Flavors Hook Kids NYC

Members of the NAACP

Mike Davoli, American Cancer Society

Pastor Graham-Brown at Bronx Baptist Church

Gabe Galluci, Director of Governmental and Political Affairs at the Council for School Supervisors and Administrators

Darold Burgess, Ingersol Houses TA President

David Best, Current President of Community Education Council District 19

Derek Salud, Youth Group Organizer at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine

Nikki Lucas, Founder and President of The People First Education Fund and People First Democratic Club

Pastor Addie Banks, The Groundswell Group, WEPA Coalition

Phillip Lynn, The Groundswell Group, WEPA Coalition

Chris Banks, East New York United Concerned Citizens

Shanequa M. Charles, Miss Abbie’s Kids Inc.

Kujegi Camara, SCWEN

Reverend Kevin McCall, Founder of Crisis Action Center

Jesse Heindrich, PS9 PTO

Bishop Curt Courtenay, Emmanuel Church of God

Charles B. Wang Community Health Center

**LIST IS IN FORMATION**
WHAT:

 NYC Council Members + New Yorkers to Rally to Restrict Flavored Tobacco on 10-Year Anniversary of Menthol Loophole.
WHEN: Tuesday October 15, 2019 at 10:00AM Eastern Time (US & Canada)
WHERE: City Hall Steps
Manhattan, New York
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