Senate Committee revisits Indoor Smoking Loophole Permitting Cigarette Smoking in NJ Casinos
Today the New Jersey Senate Heath Committee will revisit the loophole permitting indoor cigarette smoking at New Jersey Casinos.
Today’s hearing was a “discussion only” affair, no votes will take place to close the loophole and finally ban smoking in casinos once and for all.
When New Jersey banned indoor smoking back in 2006, the casino industry lobbied hard to allow cigarette smoking at New Jersey casinos and it worked. And for 17 years, the health and safety of casino workers (and patrons) took a backseat to an increasingly misguided argument that smoking in casinos is somehow good for business.
Many in attendance viewed today’s lack of a vote as a missed opportunity. Others view today’s hearing as proof of the inevitable: that New Jersey’s indoor smoking ban will soon extend to NJ casinos and it’s a matter of “when” and not “if” at this point. Of course, we heard that same argument 17 years ago when NJ’s flawed, loophole-laden indoor smoking legislation was signed into law.
Senator Joe Vitale chairs the Senate Health Committee and sponsored legislation to close the casino smoking loophole. He addressed supporters outside the state house before today’s hearing.
”We’re here to make sure that casino workers work in an environment; that’s healthy,” Senator Vitale told the crowd. “Not in an environment that risks their health with emphysema, cancer, lung disease, heart disease, breast cancer and any number of diseases that are borne from second-hand cigarette smoke. Second-hand smoke is something that no one argues is cancer-causing and to literally sit three feet from someone who’s smoking a cigarette. I’s not as though it’s in the air some places far away, if right in your face. That is pre-historic when you think about it.”
After addressing a supportive crowd, Senator Vitale chatted with InsiderNJ about today’s momentum-building hearing. He cited the potential lost consumers who might be put off by cigarette smoke.
“I think people enjoy gambling or going to Atlantic City whether it’s gambling or for the shows or for the beach,” Senator Vitale added. “I’ve had people say to me ‘I don’t go to Atlantic City because of asthma, I don’t go because it nauseates me to be around smoke’ becasue as soon as you walk into a casino, it smells like an ash tray.”
The smoking ban will be 100% Smokefree in 2023. There are 90% non smokers and it’s long long overdue for a full ban. The tired antiquated scare tactics of the chamber of commerce and canj and local54 union has no merit or credibility.
It is interesting to me that one of the main concerns by the opposition to this bill is due to an “alleged” decrease of in-person visitation to Atlantic City. If that is such a concern, why do the casinos still charge people $20 to park in their garages? What are they doing to help rid the city of crime, drugs, and blight that exists right outside of their doors? Why are they so concerned about retaining old customers rather than finding innovative ways to attract new, younger customers who have plenty of money and are largely non-smokers? Why wouldn’t they focus on providing a safe and healthy workplace for their employees which would increase employee moral and productivity, thereby increasing customer satisfaction and ensuring repeat business? I’m just a dumb electrician and even I can see that staying stuck in the past is not a good business model