Governor Phil Murphy has publicly stated that he’d sign a bill that would ban smoking inside Atlantic City casinos, should one ever cross his desk. That hasn’t happened yet and is looking less and less likely to happen this year.
Reassurances against the possibility of a gubernatorial veto will be welcome news to the groups pushing for the ban, but only until the end of next year. Murphy is reaching the end of his term limit and will be replaced following next November’s gubernatorial election.
Organizations such as Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE) have been fighting to close the loophole in the 2006 Smoke-Free Air Act. However, it has not been successful to date.
Perhaps new administration could help push the goal forward. There are 10 candidates vying be the new Governor of New Jersey next November. Only three of them have publicly supported a full smoking ban.
In the early stages of the New Jersey Governor’s race, here are the 10 candidates that have emerged:
- Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop
- Newark Mayor Ras Baraka
- GOP state Sen. Jon Bramnick
- Rep. Mikie Sherrill
- Former Senate President Steve Sweeney
- New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller
- Former NJ General Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli
- Conservative radio host Bill Spadea
- Former state Sen. Ed Durr
Which candidate supports a smoking ban
Politico gathered responses from each person’s stance on the smoking. Only Fulop, Baraka and Bramnick are in favor a full ban on cigarettes at Atlantic City casinos. Here are each candidate’s comments on the issue:
Fulop
“We … need to reimagine the revenue from Atlantic City wholesale and if the viability of Atlantic City is based on smoking, we’re doing something wrong. …I would say that banning it is the appropriate thing, that there shouldn’t be smoking on the casino floors.”
Baraka
“Smoking should be banned in Casinos just as it is banned in restaurants, bars and boardrooms, and if that legislation came to my desk as Governor I would sign it. If the casinos want to build indoor, closed-off smoking rooms however, where no workers are required, that’s an OK compromise, even though an outdoor space makes more sense and would require a lot less maintenance.”
Bramnick
“I was on that bill.”
Bramnick is a co-sponsor to Bill S1493, which is a piece of legislation, introduced in January, that is currently sitting in the Senate Committee.
Who’s against a smoking ban?
Spadea and Durr are on the record for allowing smoke inside facilities. Here are each of those stances:
Spadea
“We’re already losing a ton of business to the River Casino in Pennsylvania. We’re losing it to the casinos in Connecticut. We need to stop bleeding business out of this state. So if keeping a balance of smoking and non smoking keeps business in New Jersey, then I’m all for it.”
Durr
“I don’t believe in bans. Just like I didn’t believe the governor should have had a smoking ban on the beaches. I think you’re out in public — what’s next, you’re going to have a smoking ban in my backyard because my neighbor complains my smoke drifts over?”
Ciattarelli, who narrowly lost to Murphy in 2021, thinks it should be up to the individual property:
“I believe it should be left up to the employers and the unions. At the end of the day, if there’s people who don’t want to work in the smoking sections, it’s at that point in time the casinos will have to address it.”
Who wants a compromise?
There are multiple candidates who either want to learn more about the situation, or come up with a compromise for the casinos and employees. Here are those responses:
Sherrill
“I know there is ongoing work being done on compromise legislation, and I want to see a proposal that prioritizes employees’ health and also keeps good-paying jobs here in Atlantic City. We need to make sure Atlantic City’s tourism industry remains competitive — and their economy more vibrant — so I am committed to finding common ground to support these workers at a time when we know everyone is struggling to get by.”
Gottheimer
“I obviously understand the concerns and I’m eager to sit down with folks to discuss the issue. I’m confident that this is a problem we can solve.”
Sweeney
“Right now we got a casino … right over the bridge right in Philadelphia and they don’t ban smoking. We got to come up with a compromise.”
Spiller
“I want to bring everybody to the table and listen to what they have to say. But certainly my leaning … I wouldn’t want to be and I certainly wouldn’t want my family members or others to have be subjected to an environment where they have secondhand smoke or otherwise. I don’t think it’s healthy. So we got to get to that place. What that looks like, it’s a broader conversation.”
CEASE responds to potential candidates
There are many CEASE members that work for Atlantic City casinos who are fighting to eliminate smoking. Pete Naccarelli from CEASE appreciates the support most of the potential governors have for casino workers.
However, a full on ban is what CEASE is seeking. Naccarelli went on to say in a statement emailed to PlayNJ:
“Any candidate for office should reject Big Tobacco’s ideas for indoor smoking rooms and understand the real situation we face every day on the job.
“Casinos can build outdoor smoking areas that ensure everyone is accommodated, and they don’t need legislation to do this. The idea of compromise may sound good, but the details matter — and they are a matter of life or death.”
Currently, CEASE filed a lawsuit earlier this year that is under consideration by the Appellate Division. The organization would be able to file an appeal at the New Jersey Supreme Court level.
CEASE has also called on current Gov. Phil Murphy, and his wife, Tammy, who is a champion of women’s health, multiple times over the years. It won’t stop no matter who the governor is.
