One of the Health Department's big initiatives has been to help New Yorkers quit smoking, and it's been working, especially with the smoking ban and the cigarette tax. However, after looking at numbers that reflect a slight rise in smokers between 2004 and 2005, the Department of Health would like another cigarette tax to hit its goal of 250,000 more former smokers. Health Commissioner Tom Friedan said, "It is now more critical than ever that New York State grant New York City the authority to raise the city's tobacco tax." To the tune of 50 cents, smokies! But don't fret too soon - amNew York says that it's unlikely that Albany will allow the tax. amNY also recalls a quote from Representative Charles Rangel: "If a guy makes a million dollars and a guy makes $10,000 they pay the same taxes on cigarettes... It is regressive."
But if you're thinking of quitting anyway, call 311 to see if there are still free nicotine patches available. And here's the Department of Health's Bureau of Tobacco Control.
Photograph of NYC rat enjoying a cigarette from Jason Toney on Flickr
