Tribe Can't Sell Untaxed Cigarettes To Non-Members

If you thought you were getting your untaxed cigarettes from the Poospatuck tribal reservation this weekend, think again! A federal judge stopped the tribe's sale of untaxed cigarettes to those outside the tribe because NYC complained that people would of course buy untaxed cigarettes instead of taxed ones in the city and that the untaxed cigarette trade leads to bootlegging. The tribe has 30 days to appeal, and they vow to fight it. However, Mayor Bloomberg said, "The city will go after every dollar that is owed to city taxpayers." According to the NY Times, "City officials estimated that the sales deprived the city of $420 million from 2004 to 2008."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on August 27, 2009 5:07 PM

Comments [rss]

NannyState

We're all members of the Poopsatuck tribe.

Brooklynbobby

It's not about the taxes . . . Bloomberg (a former smoker and therefore, hypocrite) is trying to be the city's mommie and wants people to think he actually cares about public health. When he banned smoking in bars, the city lost millions in taxes because people stopped going out.

SikBug

I want to say that sounds like flat out BS, but I do not know the facts. But that really sounds like BS.

T

The Native Americans have had it too good for too long.

books

if you're joking its hilarious...if you're not, you be a fool.

praise jäh

Mayor Bloomberg said, "The city will go after every dollar that is owed to city taxpayers."

Wow Bloomberg, playing the bookie. What are you going to do? Go down there and take away more of their land and money?

whitecastlerock

If Bloomberg was that serious about collecting tax revenue owed the city, he may want to investigate Messrs Rangel and Sharpton first.

Mr Mel

Ethnic cleansing.

JacqueMehoff

I want membership to their tribe.

Snoopy

At $10+ for a pack of cigarettes, less people are smoking, hence lower cigarette tax revenue.

Leave the Indians alone or more people will become Native Americans to save a few bucks. What next, only Native Americans can gamble in their casinos?

BoogieDown_Bronx

Hmm..limiting enterprise .. to a people who lost almost everything..sounds fair right?

Double-standards are so uninspiring.

ides_of_march

I thought they smoke-um peace pipe.

Nyctini11

Well maybe if you stop taxing the shit out of us and hiking the prices up on everything else, people WOULD spend locally, NYC & Bloomberg, you brought all this on yourselves, so suck it, you greedy bastards.