24-204 : R. Wyatt - LOS to NYS Legislature Re: Flavor and Menthol Ban

This agenda item, 24-204, concerns a Letter of Support (LOS) from Buffalo Common Council Member Rasheed Wyatt to the New York State Legislature. The letter urges support for Bills A3907 and S4477, which aim to ban flavored and menthol tobacco products. The justification highlights the public health crisis of youth tobacco use, citing statistics such as 2.1% of high school students smoking traditional cigarettes and 18.7% using e-cigarettes. The letter also points to the significant economic burden of tobacco use in New York, estimated at $12.07 billion annually, including Medicaid costs. The Buffalo Common Council has pledged to work with stakeholders to address youth tobacco use, and this letter seeks to bolster legislative action at the state level. The item has been repeatedly tabled by the Legislation Committee since February 2024.