Landmark legislation aims to protect youth, advance health equity and break Big Tobacco’s grip on Black and Brown communities
NEW YORK CITY, December 19, 2024 — The American Heart Association, celebrating 100 years of lifesaving service as the world’s leading voluntary organization focused on heart and brain health, issued the following statements in response to today’s announcement of INT 1152-2024 which would eliminate the sale of all menthol flavored tobacco and nicotine products within the five boroughs through the following advocates:
- Shanequa Charles, American Heart Association community partner and Executive Director of Miss Abbie’s Kids
- Natalia Cineas, DNP, MSM-N, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, FADLN, President of the American Heart Association New York City Board of Directors
- Robin Vitale, American Heart Association vice president of community impact
Shanequa Charles, American Heart Association advocate and Executive Director of Miss Abbie’s Kids:
“Imagine the horror of watching your mother’s skin peel off her body before your eyes, ravaged by the cancer caused by menthol cigarettes. Imagine having to explain to your innocent child why their grandmother is no longer here, stolen away by an industry that knowingly peddled addiction and death to Black communities. Big Tobacco targeted us with the lie that menthol cigarettes were cool, knowing menthol makes them 80% harder to quit. This was a calculated attack on our families,”
“Menthol cigarettes are engineered addiction. How many more loved ones must we lose? City Council members, which side of history would you like your legacy to reflect, end the sale of menthol. Choose life. Choose our children’s future. Choose to give our children the gift of grandparents.”
“This bill isn’t about penalizing individuals who use these products. It’s about holding retailers and Big Tobacco accountable for decades of targeted harm. Passing this law will save lives—not just in the Bronx, but across our city.
“I refuse to stand by as yet another generation of melanated people are targeted and harmed by menthol cigarettes. I’m calling on our city’s leaders to act now and pass this life-saving legislation. We owe it to our children, our families and our communities to stop this cycle of addiction and disease.”
“That’s why I’m urging all New Yorkers to support and the New York City Council to pass Intro 1152 to end the sale of menthol cigarettes and nicotine products.
Natalia Cineas, DNP, MSM-N, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, FADLN, President of the American Heart Association New York City Board of Directors:
“Menthol-flavored tobacco time and again has been cited as a gateway to life-long cigarette addiction among teenagers, women, and communities of color. As a result of decades of targeted marketing of menthol-flavored tobacco to communities of color, these groups suffer the highest rates of tobacco-related illness and death in the U.S. City administration needs to hold the tobacco industry accountable and pass legislation to restrict access of menthol-flavored tobacco to these susceptible populations in order to improve the overall health outcomes of city residents.”
Robin Vitale, American Heart Association vice president of community impact
“Intro 1152 is a monumental step forward for public health and health equity in New York City. By eliminating the sale of menthol cigarettes, we are taking a stand to protect the next generation from ever starting to smoke, helping those already addicted to quit and addressing the decades of harm caused by Big Tobacco’s targeted marketing to Black and Brown communities.
“This legislation is more than just a public health measure—it’s a long-overdue act of justice for communities disproportionately affected by tobacco-related disease and death. We urge the City Council to pass this life-saving bill and protect the health of all New Yorkers.”