Tobacco Documents Online

April 3, 1978 The Honorable Stanley Steingut Speaker, The.State Capitol Albany, NY 12234 Re: A. 8565-B, AN ACT to Ainendi the public health • law, in relation to protecting the public healith;, comfort and environment by prohibiting smoking in public places and at meetingis of the public except in designated smoking areas. Dear Mr. Speaker: I cannot presume to be an expert on the healthieffects of smoking, nor would I impose my conclusions onithe Legis- lature were I such an expert. I will, however, provide testimony as to the unnecessary burdens that 'could be im-- posedion the New York Convention and Visitors Bureau should the above-referenced' legislation be mandated.by the Legislature. The New York Convention and Visitors Bureau is org;anized to attract as many conventions and'visitors as is possible. More than one hundred cities throughout the nation have organizations similar to ours spendingi millions of dollars' to tell potential visitors the virtues of their particular locales. . In addition, hundreds of resorts are spending untold millions trying to attract these same people to their locations. Indeed, the Legislature, as you well know, has appropriated millions of dollars to attract visitors to the. State with the noble "I Love New York" campaign. In such a competitive atmosphere, legislation which would prohibit smoking in public places, such as, restaurants,, hotel lobbies, arenas, auditoriums, Madison Square Garden, need- lessly places the State at a disadvantage with our com- petitors who do not have such restrictions in their locations. Undoubtedly, such infringements within our State fly in the face of the very purpose of the theme to attract business and commerce. Good~manners, yes -- legislation, no. We adamantly oppose provisions of the legislation, requiring the hospitality industry inithe State to act as the arm of'the law by enforcing; zones of smoking and no smoking. Owners and managers of facilities cannot possibly jeopardize delicate customer relations by insistingiupon strict compliance. We know the Department of Health in New

C -2- Ycork City tried to~ enforce its resolution of July 1974,, restricting smoking in certainipublic places, and that effortt proved unsuccessful. To require an industry which is sensitive to the desires of its guests to control social habits is un- desirable and unwarranted. Local managers of hospitality establishments should not be de ied the flexibility to estab- lish procedures~which they feel adapt to the preferences of their customers -- customers heretofore so warmly welcomed to New York Sta~te. The New York Conventio and Visitors Bureaulstrongly feels that this legislation is impractical, infeasible and unenforceable and strongly urges the Legislature to consider these negative ramifications and to reject its further con- sidexation. Respectfully submitted, Charles Gillette cc : Senator Warren M. Anderson Assemblyman Perry Bi. Duryea,, Jr. Senator Tarky J'.Lombardi, Jr. Assemblyman Alan G. Hevesi Assemblyman Alexander B. Grannis