Social Justice, Health Advocates Demand City Council Hold Hearing on Menthol Ban

Despite support from civil rights leaders and half the Council, no hearing has been scheduled to discuss one of the biggest health risks to Black, Latino and Asian New Yorkers: menthol cigarettes

MANHATTAN (11/15/2023) (readMedia)-- On Wednesday, social justice and health groups will call on the City Council to hold a hearing on Intro 577: legislation that will end the sale of menthol cigarettes in New York City. Civil rights leaders and about half the City Council are signed on to Intro 577, yet there hasn't been a hearing on the bill after more than a year of waiting. Bill sponsor Council Member Rita Joseph will attend. November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month.

Menthol masks the harsh taste of tobacco flavor, making it easier to start smoking and harder to quit. Big Tobacco has aggressively marketed menthol-flavored tobacco products to communities of color for decades to hook new generations of smokers, creating disproportionately negative health outcomes for Black Americans, who are 18% more likely to die from a disease from smoking-related illness than white smokers.

WHO:

Council Member Rita Joseph

Rev Kirsten Foy

American Heart Association

American Cancer Society

American Lung Association

Members of the Menthols Kill NYC coalition

LIST IN FORMATION
WHAT:

 November is Lung Cancer Awareness month. Social justice and health groups will call on the City Council to hold a hearing on Intro 577: legislation that will end the sale of menthol cigarettes in New York City and prevent future lung cancer deaths.
WHEN: Wednesday November 15, 2023 at 12:00PM Eastern Time (US & Canada)
WHERE: In front of the R/W station near City Hall
264 Broadway
Manhattan, New York
NOTES: