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Anti-Smoking Campaign Frightens Bloggers
April 27th, 2007

The Bloomberg administration – which instituted the smoking ban, raised cigarette taxes, and has accused the tobacco industry of murder – has launched a new effort to help New Yorkers quit smoking. From now through May 15, the Health Department will offer nicotine replacement at no cost to smokers who request it through 311. The Health Department has also launched an advertising campaign featuring Ronaldo Martinez, a former smoker who lost his voice to throat cancer at age 39.

The point, of course, is to get people’s attention. And based on numerous local blogs, the scare tactics are working.

GOP and The City writes that the “Ronaldo Martinez Commercials Are Freaking Me Out!”

Gawker has dubbed Martinez the “man who made us switch to Marlboro Lights.”

Geek Soap Box writes, “Can we please please please please please take the ads off of the TV for just a little while…? In fact, here’s my ultimatum: Take them off the airwaves NOW or I’ll actually START to smoke in retaliation!”

New York Magazine’s blog concludes, “What a caring, and ever-so-slightly creepy, city we live in.”

By Mark Berkey-Gerard on April 27, 2007, 7:20 am
In category: Health
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