A.C. Chamber member resigns after facing opposition on smoke-free casino legislation
The Greater Atlantic City Chamber president noted efforts to ban smoking in casinos should stop, causing one member to resign in protest.
A public health agency, Atlantic Prevention Resources, has resigned from the Atlantic City Chamber on Thursday. This resignation comes in protest after receiving pushback from the business group.
Michael Chait, the group’s president, released this statement: “A smoking ban would have a negative impact on the casino industry, resulting in significant job losses [and] decline in revenues, which in turn would hurt local businesses and vendors that rely on the industry for their economic livelihood.”
He went on to say, “We recognize the concerns of casino employees who support a smoking ban, but we also must keep in mind that thousands of employees and their families will be impacted by lost jobs if a ban is passed.”
In response, Atlantic Prevention Resources, a group that monitors substance abuse in and near Atlantic City, resigned in defiance of the Chamber.
Bob Zlotnick, its Executive Director, stated: “We highly value our membership in the Greater A.C. Chamber, but as a public health agency we cannot continue to be members of an organization that places financial interests above health. As a member of the local community, we would stand to be impacted by any loss in local business, but we cannot in good conscience put a price tag on the health of our families and neighbors.”
Nearly a third of the New Jersey State Senate has either signed on as sponsors or cosponsors of the bill. However, the Casino Association of New Jersey issued a report stating that layoffs and a decline in revenue could be the result of a smoking ban.
This report was refuted by smoking opponents and casino workers, most of whom claim these are “scare tactics” used by the Chamber.
Cynthia Hallet, President of Americans For Non-Smokers’ Rights said: “If their members are concerned about in-person visitation, they should talk to the casino operators about the incessant promotion of online gambling that cannibalizes Atlantic City’s land-based business.”
In opposition to Hallet, Chait stated that, “Land-based gaming revenues are down from 2019, and have not returned to pre-pandemic levels. This is not the time to enact policy changes that could inflict yet another blow to an already-struggling industry and the employees, families and businesses that it supports.”
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