PHOTOS: Santa Claus + Advocates Deliver Minty Treats to Speaker Johnson

NEW YORK, NY (12/19/2019) (readMedia)-- Today, before the New York City Council's stated meeting, Santa Claus and advocates from the Flavors Hook Kids NYC Coalition handed out mint-flavored candy-canes on the City Hall steps to demand action on legislation to restrict the sale of menthol cigarettes in New York City. Afterwards, they dropped the sweet treats off with Speaker Johnson.

SEE HERE for photos and videos.

On Monday, the Mayor signed into law legislation that will ban the sale of flavored e-cigarettes. But Intro. 1345, which would restrict the sale of menthol cigarettes, still awaits action in the New York City Council's health committee despite support from more than two-thirds of Council Members.

"Mint flavoring is delicious in candy-canes but potentially deadly in tobacco," said Michael Davoli, Director, New York Metro Government Relations, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). "The best gift that the City Council can give to New Yorkers this holiday season is a vote on Intro. 1345 to ban the sale of deadly menthol cigarettes."

"Speaker Johnson, if you want to be on my 'nice list' next year, protect kids and restrict the sale of menthol cigarettes first thing in 2020," said Santa Claus.

Menthol, which is an organic compound made from peppermint, masks the harsh taste of tobacco flavor, making it easier to start smoking and harder to quit. Big Tobacco has aggressively marketed flavored tobacco products to underage users for decades to hook new generations of smokers-particularly in communities of color, where menthol cigarettes are sold to young people, creating disproportionately negative health outcomes for African Americans.

In addition to the local and national organizations now supporting both Intro. 1345 and Intro. 1362 (law that bans the sale of e-cigarettes), city leaders such as former Mayor David Dinkins, NAACP New York Chapter President Hazel Dukes, NYC First Lady Chirlane McCray and Rep. Gregory Meeks also back the menthol bill. The de Blasio Administration supports both pieces of legislation.

Members of the Flavors Hook Kids NYC coalition include: Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, NY NAACP, Parents Against Vaping e-cigarettes (PAVe), African American Clergy and Elected Official organization (AACEO), American Cancer Society Action Network (ACS CAN), New York Communities for Change, American Cancer Society Action Network, the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council NAATPN, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Neighbors in Action, Last Call Church, United Concerned Citizens, NYPIRG, Bishop Courtenay of Emmanuel Church of God in Brooklyn, Arthur Ashe Institute Public Health, among others.