Subscribe to Cigar Rights of America RSS feeds and get the most up-to-date cigar-related legislative news for New Jersey. http://www.cigarrights.org/xml/news/news_NJ.xml http://www.cigarrights.org/favicon.ico http://www.cigarrights.org/images/CRA08small.jpg en-us ATLANTIC CITY, N.J., JAN 28 - A new poll suggests New Jerseyans may be getting more tolerant of smoking in Atlantic City's 11 casinos. Forty-seven percent of those surveyed in a Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind poll released Wednesday say smoking should be allowed in some part of the casinos while 39 percent say smoking should be banned altogether inside the casinos. Other polls taken in recent years - before the bottom fell out of the economy - indicated stronger opposition to casino smoking. The issue has been a burning one across the country for years: Casinos don't want to anger their smoking patrons, particularly during an economic crisis in which every dollar counts. But nonsmokers and many casino workers say their right to breathe clean air and work in a healthy environment is more important than profits. Sixteen states offer smoke-free gambling, according to the New Jersey Group Against Smoking Pollution. http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/190/story/386004.html Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:00 -0800 New Jersey BELMAR, FEB 20 — No ifs, ands or butts about it. In an effort to reduce cigarette and cigar litter east of Ocean Avenue, the Borough Council will hold a public hearing at 1 p.m. Saturday on a proposal to eliminate designated smoking areas and ban smoking completely on the beaches and boardwalk. The total ban was recommended by the Environmental Commission. "The problem with smoking is the amount of litter left behind. You can't walk 20 feet on the boardwalk without seeing a cigarette butt stuck in the cracks or in the dunes," Mayor Kenneth E. Pringle said. Both Pringle and Councilwoman Meredith Brennan, who are nonsmokers, said they are neither for nor against the proposed plan, but want to hear from the public before making any decisions. In 2001, the council adopted an ordinance that banned smoking on the beaches except in designated areas that are marked with a sign, the first smoking ban of its kind in Monmouth County. Smokers are only allowed to smoke within 50 feet of the poles and are subject to a $25 fine if they are found to have violated that rule. Persons who litter the beachfront property, including cigarette butts and other tobacco products, face a $100 fine and two days of community service if convicted. http://www.app.com/article/200902200410/NEWS01/902200332 Fri, 20 Feb 2009 9:43 -0800 New Jersey MAR 12 - As Atlantic City casino revenues continue to plunge at a record pace, New Jersey lawmakers are considering an amendment that would once again eliminate smoking from casino floors. The proposal would remove the exemption casinos enjoy under the New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act, passed in 2006. The new legislation would trump the current Atlantic City Council law, which restricts smoking in casinos to 25 percent of the floor. The desire to eliminate smoking in Atlantic City's casinos is not new. The Atlantic City Council has tried three times, unsuccessfully, to rid the floor of smokers. http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Features/CA_Feature_Basic_Template/0,2344,2671,00.html Thu, 12 Mar 2009 19:51 -0800 New Jersey MAR 10 - As Atlantic City casinos reported the biggest monthly revenue decline in the New Jersey gaming mecca's 30-year history, a state Senate committee considered a bill that would ban smoking in the gambling houses. Revenues for the 11 casinos in the nation's second-largest gambling market fell 19.2 percent last month. Every casino in the city saw a decline, most by 20 percent or more. Several experienced a nearly 30 percent decline. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101666817&ft=1&f=1017&sc=emaf Tue, 10 Mar 2009 9:12 -0800 New Jersey The proposed ban is drawing attention outside Denville, with the leader of a New York City-based smokers' rights organization offering to cover the fines of anyone ticketed for lighting up. The Denville proposal lists parking lots, bleachers, playgrounds and adjoining sidewalks among the prohibited locations. It specifies as prohibited items, cigars, cigarettes, pipes, "or any other matter or substance which contains tobacco." http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20100712/COMMUNITIES/100711021/Denville-NJ-council-to-take-on-smoking-ban-Tuesday 16 Jul 2010 11:11 -0800 New Jersey Florham Park is considering an ordinance that would virtually ban smoking in all public places. This proposed ban is unnecessary and bad for our economy. I am a small business owner and a Certified Public Accountant. I have practiced my profession for 37 years. I am a former cigarette smoker who quit in 1993 but I still enjoy a fine cigar after my entree and before coffee and dessert. I spend a lot of money dining out several times a week. I appreciate a fine meal and good service. Let us be reminded that there are a number of fine eating establishments in Morris County, outside of Florham Park, that provide me with a choice of where I will dine and where I will spend my money. http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20101031/OPINION03/101026051/-1/LIFEFRONT/%20Florham%20Park%20smoking%20ban%20is%20absurd 31 Oct 2010 11:11 -0800 New Jersey Bill Ervolino explores the little-known, unusual and sometimes weird things in North Jersey. Sometimes a cigar isn't just a cigar — particularly when it's what Jose Suarez insists it should be: Una obra de arte. A work of art. Standing behind the counter of his cramped Union City storefront, where the only cigars he sells are the ones he's rolled by hand, the 77-year-old owner of La Boquilla Cigar Co. is, by turns, genial and crotchety. http://www.northjersey.com/shopping/111836054_Craftsman_with_a_starring_roll.html 14 Dec 2010 11:11 -0800 New Jersey With smoking bans becoming more and more popular these days, cigar festivals are also rising in popularity. Events, such as the annual Big Smoke put on by Cigar Aficionado, are popular because they give cigar enthusiasts the chance to get cigars directly from the people that make them. It can be a thrill to rub discuss a cigar with Avo Uvezian, Pete Johnson, or Rocky Patel. At cigar festivals, you are given the opportunity to meet the top names in cigars under one roof. On Sunday, April 3, Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium will host the New Jersey Cigar Festival. Scheduled to appear are companies such as Alec Bradley, Drew Estate, and Miami Cigar & Company. http://www.examiner.com/cigar-in-long-island/newark-nj-to-hold-major-cigar-festival 11 Feb 2011 11:11 -0800 New Jersey CAPE MAY — City Council will consider creating smoke-free beaches in 2012, but it does not plan to take any action this year. Council listened to a presentation Tuesday from Global Advisors on Smokefree Policy, or GASP, before making a decision to do more research. http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/communities/lower_capemay/cape-may-won-t-ban-smoking-on-beaches-this-summer/article_a3719efc-76b5-11e0-aa25-001cc4c03286.html 04 May 2011 11:11 -0800 New Jeresy CAPE MAY — City Council will consider creating smoke-free beaches in 2012, but it does not plan to take any action this year. Council listened to a presentation Tuesday from Global Advisors on Smokefree Policy, or GASP, before making a decision to do more research. http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/communities/lower_capemay/cape-may-won-t-ban-smoking-on-beaches-this-summer/article_a3719efc-76b5-11e0-aa25-001cc4c03286.html 4 May 2011 11:11 -0800 New Jersey Q: We operate a fourplex and have decided to prohibit smoking entirely - in common areas, such as the halls and lobby, as well as individual units. Current tenants who smoke say that's discriminatory. Would we be breaking the law if we implement this policy? http://www.northjersey.com/realestate/133204063_A_smoking_ban_that_doesn_t_break_rules__rent_concessions.html 3 Nov 2011 11:11 -0800 New Jeresy