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New Jersey Group Against Smoking Pollution Announce Little Improvement in Casino Air Quality

Last Thursday, November 9th, 2006, 7 months after the statewide smoking ban was implemented in New Jersey, the New Jersey Group against Smoking Pollution announced that the air quality in the state has improved somewhat.

According to New Jersey GASP Director in a press conference at the state house, the organization distributed hand-held air monitoring devices to volunteers around the city to test the air in about a dozen hospitals and other public establishments like pubs, bingo halls, bowling centers and others. They returned with the bad news that although the smoking ban was implemented just last year, casinos around the city remain just as polluted as before.

Nonetheless, the quality of the air in public establishments considered non-gaming areas is much better. Aside from the smoke emitted from the casinos, the group's volunteers discovered ashtrays in non-gaming areas even where non-smoking signs required by the law were posted.

They also monitored the halls during the three day period in July where the gaming establishments were closed due to a state budget crisis. Those were the only days that the air in the gaming halls was much better than the air outside the gaming establishments.

Jim Whelan, an Assemblyman of the New Jersey Legislature, presented a measure that will include gaming establishments. 2 other councilmen said that they will introduce a law by next week that will push for expanding the coverage of the smoking ban in all of the city's workplaces.

According to the volunteers who spent about half an hour at each of the examined establishments, gaming hall employees were usually absent when a violation was being committed, but even when they were present, they did not attempt to stop the smokers, except for one incident at the Tropicana Casino and Resort.

The spokesman of the casino said that they are doing their best to comply with the laws. Another casino, the Resorts Atlantic City, has put up signs saying that this is a non-smoking area.

Brian Cahill, Spokesman for Resorts Atlantic City, said that they have already instructed their employees to ask guests that smoke in a non-gaming area to put out their cigarettes. The casino industry has previously opposed the smoking ban. As Director Caffrey said, casino employees react faster when you take out a cellphone at a gaming table than when you take out a cigarette.

Joseph Corbo, President of the Casino Association of New Jersey, declined to comment on the statement made by the New Jersey Group Against Smoking Pollution.

According to Assemblyman, Jim Whelan, who was present at the conference, when the state of Delaware passed the smoking ban, profits slid down, but they immediately recovered and are stronger than ever before. The same thing will happen in Atlantic City. Whelan further stated that they must put the safety of the public before economic interests.

 

Tuesday, January 09 , 2007
Victor Copeland