With the clocking ticking closer to midnight on his mayoral legacy, Michael Bloomberg is banning as fast as he can.
Fran Drescher
In the era of “Yes, We Can,” Michael Bloomberg has long staked his legacy on “No, You Can’t.” In the soon-to-be 12 years since he became Gotham’s Technocrat-in-Chief, Bloomberg has managed to ban, or try to ban: (in no particular order):
- Trans fats
- Salt
- Food donations to homeless shelters
- Soft drinks
- Fatty foods (mandatory calorie counters in restaurants)
- Outdoor smoking
Bloomberg’s nanny-ish reach has been so broad that in his waning months he’s repeating himself. Hizzoner’s latest ban plan? Hide cigarettes from public view:
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is pushing for a new citywide law requiring stores to physically conceal cigarettes and other tobacco products behind counters, curtains or cabinets—anywhere out of public view—as part of a new anti-smoking initiative.
The legislation would also increase penalties on the smuggling and illegal sales of cigarettes as part of an effort that Bloomberg said would help curb the youth smoking rate and promote a healthier New York City.
Three out of every five cigarettes smoked in New York City were “smuggled” – purchased over state lines where the $4.35 per pack expense, not counting the additional $1.50 per pack levied in New York City, wasn’t an issue. So while smoking in New York is at historic lows (14% according to polling in 2011), most of those gains occurred from 2002 to 2007 – before Bloomberg’s more recent tobacco initiatives to ban workplace and outdoor smoking were set in motion.
Bloomberg isn’t likely to receive much push-back to his latest move. Hitting tobacco is often a political winner and as nanny-state legislation goes, moving tobacco products behind the counter isn’t much of a reach. Bloomberg’s past comments on tobacco put this latest move to shame, with Bloomberg even suggesting that children have the right to sue their parents if they’re exposed to second-hand smoke.
But Bloomberg’s acknowledgment that his past legislation has made underground tobacco sales Gotham’s latest cottage industry stands in stark contrast with his attitudes on marijuana. Last June, in concert with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s move to downgrade possession of pot from a misdemeanor to a violation, Bloomberg chimed in that he would “limit” enforcement of New York City laws against marijuana.
So pot’s okay. But a Big Gulp demands immediate legislation.
But of course, marijuana isn’t tobacco when it comes to the effect on health. Right? A 2012 study at the University of Alabama garnered some press for the headline that marijuana wasn’t as bad for your lungs as tobacco. As usual, the substance of the research was buried by the lede. Smoking marijuana, the study concurred, leads to chronic coughing, wheezing and potentially chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The study even admitted that longer term research would be required to see what the rate of lung cancer was among long-term pot users. Or as one quoted researcher simply put it, “casual or recreational marijuana use is not a safe alternative to tobacco smoking.”
By his actions, Bloomberg demonstrates a capricious sense of how to use the bully pulpit of the mayor’s office. Marijuana restrictions need to be eased because enforcement has not only failed but is as likely to hurt the causal user as the hardcore dealer. Tobacco restrictions need to be tightened even as Bloomberg acknowledges that his previous efforts have driven demand underground. Tobacco users, who legally purchase a legal product over state lines need to be taught a lesson. Marijuana users, who use a product that is currently illegal, are due leniency.
The macro issues of the Drug War aside, at a minimum, Michael Bloomberg has a high threshold for irony.
From a man who owns a financial-information business, I’d rather hear the careful language of cost-benefit thinking, rather than the absolutist language of “It would be irresponsible not to do everything we can.” There are some things we can do, but shouldn’t.
Best example of Napoleon’s complex I’ve ever seen. Rumor has it at the DoDE here that Mr. Bloomberg liked some of the ladies of the night that Elliot Spitzer did. And lets just say he’s over-compensating for a lack of a particular body part.
As the rule of unintended consequences goes, the ban on transfats has led to an increase in the demand for palm oil. That demand is causing further cutting down of rain forests to plant palm trees.
Bloomberg’s obsession with elimination of transfats is leading to serious deforestation in Indonesia.
http://m.npr.org/news/Science/174140241?textSize=large
Mr. Bloomberg’s “obsession” ? > Or could it be as simple as the concerns of the general public about their personal health?
Yes, obsession is more accurate than a simple concern. The links in the article point to a definite obsession.
Alfalfa suggested “Or could it be as simple as the concerns of the general public about their personal health?”
No boy. Jack LaLAne was concerned about the public health, Bloomberg is drunk with power. Stop blowing bubbles in your kool-aid.
That being settled, I must take issue with Mitch’s apparent concern regarding the relaxation with which Ganj is pursued. More civil rights have been kicked down and flash banged in the name of the drug war than MLK ever even knew existed.
If we legalize it, not only will we dry up one of the major sources of funding to cartels and para-military federal storm troopers, but we’ll give Mexican border commuters a good use to put their new Minnesota drivers licenses to…they can haul up a couple of bales when the drive up to vote.
Read Alfalfa’s first comment, then his response to passout. Is he playing “Good dolt/Bad dolt”, or did he mix his meds this morning?
Is Bloomberg mayor of New York City or Singapore? It’s getting harder and harder to tell.
(Singapore is known for its absurd laws….no chewing gum, no peeing in the elevator, and so on)
I believe that the despicable mayor of New York City (NYC)has little concern for those over whom he rules. He wouldn’t treat them so disrespectfully if he did.
Rather, NYC is his personal ant farm. Like the evil kid with a magnifying glass, Bloomberg is just having fun “experimenting” with them in various ways; seeing how far he can go before they resist (at which point he’ll have even more fun).
However, the citizens of NYC should be ashamed for putting up with his behavior. I suspect that true New Yorkers may have died out and were replaced with those who came from places even worse. As long as they’re fed, housed, and wives and kids not raped, NYC is quite livable.
Swiftee’s point is well-stated. Although I’ve never tried MJ, I doubt if it causes any more harm than booze. Perhaps his most compelling reason for legalization would be the immediate and devastating effect it would have on illict drug trade.
Bloomberg is a straw buyer criminal and deserves to be put in jail where he belongs!!!!! He won’t be able to dictate to others when he’s locked up.