With a recent trip to the local mom and pop country store I went to pick up a pack of cigarettes only to find out New York State is forcing these small stores out of business. With an ever increasing job crisis throughout NY State and across the nation, NY State is rushing to find ways to allocate money to extend unemployment benefits and prolong inevitable bankruptcy.
This crisis has hit close to home. NY State recently increased the licensing fees of all stores selling tobacco products. The total price per year for the tobacco license is over $2,500.00 to sell tobacco related products. These store owners also rely on the other small purchases that are made when customers purchase tobacco related products.
The tobacco licensing fees varies $1,000, $2,500 or $5,000 annually, depending on sales volume.
I usually go out of my way to support local small business because of the monopoly monoliths retail chain stores have on the community. The store owner related to me that tobacco sales made up a good portion of her business and she does not see how she will make ends meet and keep the store open because of the absurd cost for the yearly licensing fee.
If you are a NY legislator from Albany reading this I certainly do not expect to make sense or even understand on how your irrational decisions on the Floor are affecting thousands of small store across NY State. I have come to expect it from you and how disconnected you are to your constituents basic needs of making a honest living unlike yourself.
Please though with the check that We The People of New York State cut you each year please take a crash course in economics at the local community college because apparently you fell asleep at Yale and Harvard economics class. I warn you, if you don't you can bet you all will be voted out of office this coming election no matter what side of the isle your pretending to stand on.