Calif. voters could solve flav' tobacco for city
Banning flav' tobacco | County gov't | Martin Van Buren
In the summertime-
Friday, June 24, 2022
NEWSBOY contents
Banning flav’ tobacco
County sales tax
Where’s the budget?
Presidential quote
Willits can’t bring itself to ban flavored tobacco
A County of Mendocino ordinance bans flavored tobacco products to include electronic cigarettes.
It is reported today that the Food and Drug Administration told San Francisco-based e-cig maker Juul to stop selling the devices.
Flavored tobacco cartridges powered by e-cigs go hand in hand.
A proposed City of Willits ordinance to ban flavored tobacco sputtered away, postponed for a time when stakeholders (opponents) could speak at an in-person meeting.
Meetings may not happen in-person anytime soon–the council continued renewal of remote meetings for another 30-days.
Before county leaders or the city took these issues up, state legislature actually passed a ban on flavored tobacco signed Aug. ‘20 by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
A question to repeal or uphold the state ban goes to voters on the November ballot.
Resistance to the state ban, not surprisingly, is backed by millions of dollars of contributions from tobacco companies.
The Fair Political Practices Commission reports information on California political finances:
Top opponents of the state ban have contributed $21.8 million to keep flavored tobacco on the shelves of retailers.
Money to fight the ban is filed under a committee named “California Coalition for Fairness, Sponsored by Manufacturers.”
Top Donors listed by FPPC
Phillip Reynolds Tobacco Company…..$10.7 million
Philip Morris USA…..$10 million
Itg Brands LLC…..$500,000
Swedish Match…..$500,000
Are you following news of a new county sales tax?
When Mendocino County Board of Supervisors met earlier this week the tax was probably center stage to many county residents.
3rd District Supervisor John Haschak pitched a proposal to his colleagues early in the conversation.
Transcription of the supervisor’s idea:
My concern with this sales tax is that it was put together hastily and when we do that we do not do it well.
We saw that with the cannabis ordinance when we tried to push it through, and it did not work.
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