At this point, any idea proposed by Mayor Bloomberg results in 80% of New Yorkers crying foul. This is what happens when an administration thinks it's done nothing wrong in 11 years. Call this latest initiative a smoke screen. Literally and figuratively.

A week after a judge blocked his ban on large sugary drinks, Mayor Bloomberg is now proposing a new public health initiative to keep cigarettes out of sight. He's proposing a new law that would require stores to keep tobacco products under the counter, in cabinets, behind curtains, or other concealed spots.

The goal of the first-in-the-nation measure is to reduce the youth smoking rate, which has remained at 8.5% in New York City since 2007. Stores devoted primarily to the sale of tobacco products would be exempt. Bloomberg defended the plan, saying he's not doing it to raise money by fining store owners. The Mayor said, "We're doing these health things to save lives." Do you agree?

Do you support this idea as a way to reduce teen smoking? If you didn't see a product that you knew was for sale, would it affect your decision to buy it? Do you feel Mayor Bloomberg's health initiatives are meant to save lives, or is there another reason for them?

Send your thoughts using the link above.

For Pete's sake, is this megalomaniac ever going to stop! It's over, you're finished, no one cares about you anymore, Bloomy. You are yesterday's news! No, hiding cigarettes will not affect anything. It's a stupid idea. Children smoke because they see family members and friends smoke. A child is not going to start smoking because he saw cigarettes in the store. The same way people do not start drinking because they passed a liquor store or gamble because they saw a deck of cards. No one becomes a thief and a liar because they walked by Wall Street! People do things because they like doing them. Any psychiatrist will tell you that the best way to promote a behavior is to try and deny access to it.

This city has got to stop listening to Bloomberg. He has left a swath of destruction behind him that will take years to fix. He must be stopped. The City Council must deny any requests he makes for the remainder of his stolen third term.

Q.
Queens

I think it's another control measure by Bloomberg - he lost the soda ban - so now he'll turn to tobacco. Most teens who start smoking have seen adults smoking and think it's "cool", IT'S NOT because they can SEE the packs in the store. Maybe they should hide the beer in the supermarkets too because teens might see it and want to drink it. IF the stores were doing their jobs and not selling cigarettes to minors, then there would be no discussion to be had and the product would not need to be hidden from sight. Hiding it from sight makes it sound like it's some illegal doings are going on. NOT.

I believe the only reason for his health initiatives is to show NY HE'S IN CHARGE!!! Nothing makes sense. He's trying to take away our freedom. He'd be good in a dictatorship. Is it November yet???

Jessica, Arden Heights

I agree 100% Bloomberg is right. Cigarettes displayed in full view is advertisement period. Stop advertising cigarettes to our kids unless you can pay their health bills and funeral cost.

Adelin M.W.
Jamaica NY

John,

There are no words that can accurately describe the repulsively vile nature of Bloomberg Chavez. He is a destroyer of freedom and a violator of our individual rights.

Joe
Port Richmond, SI

John,

What the heck is going on with this man?
They had better come and get him.
Lord have mercy on us all.

maxxiee
mp

If Bloomberg is so concerned about health let him go into the medical field, or have a show like Dr.Oz on TV

Rosalie
Brooklyn, New York.

Mayor Bloomberg and hiding tobacco. Do any of Mayor Bloomberg's publications earn monies from tobacco advertising? Do his companies walk his talk?

Mary

Seriously! This is what keeps him awake at night? How about helping speed the process for financial aid to SUPERSTORM Sandy victims.

Terry
Hamilton Beach

Mayor Bloomberg wants cigarettes hidden from view in stores. This he feels will get young people less likely to start smoking. Like is once said," Out of sight out of mind."Well let me say," Good move." In my view one less young person not smoking is an adult not smoking and dying of cancer and leaving their own young children. Yudos Mike!

Fast Buck Freddy
Glen Oaks Village

WHEN PEOPLE PROPOSE IDEAS SUCH AS HIDING RETAIL PRODUCTS THEY SHOULD SPEAK TO THE MAN IN THE STREET . THAT WOULD BE ME THE STOREKEEPER. CUSTOMERS AND STOREKEEPERS ALL KNOW THAT HIDDEN PRODUCT IS USUALLY BLACK MARKET AND THAT IS WHY IT IS HIDDEN. NOW THERE WOULD BE NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE LEGAL NY PRODUCT AND THE BOOTLEG.

THEY ALREADY CREATED THE BIGGEST BLACK MARKET EVER AND NOW IT WILL GET EVEN BIGGER. THE CHEATERS ARE ROBBING ME, YOU, THE STATE THE TAXPAYER. DISPLAY OF LEGAL PRODUCT IS ESSENTIAL.

BOB O.
QUEENS BAGEL/DELI GUY.

Dear John,

The bad habits of parents could become their children's habit as well. Parents should take this into consideration as well as who their children's friends are and what they do. It would also help if parents spend some time with their children enjoying healthy habits.

Sincerely,
Kevin
Clifton, Staten Island

I think Bloomberg is the only one taking action to improve our nation. First his idea on taking large drinks away was banned, which I find unreasonable! For he just wants to help reduce obesity, common people. Now he wants to hide cigarettes from out of sight, and people are complaining?!? He just wants to reduce the youth smoking rate, excuuuuuse him if he wants to help out AMERICA. Plus don't they say to start from the bottom, until you reach the top?

Brenda

I'm no smoker but this is the the beginning of people's rights being infringed: watch soon people won't be allowed to legally own guns. Oops well did that happen already? Socialism and communism in America.

R.J.

In a nation that allows drugs to freely flow into communities i wish government would get its priorities straight.

Jimmy.
The Bronx.

How about LOTTO, young people come in and see all lotto machines/screens/scratch off tickets and want to gamble.

Joseph

It is illegal for stores to sell cigarettes to kids. So how is this for the kids? The focus should be on making sure that stores are obeying the law. Government is not in place to control every aspect of ourlives, this is supposed to be a democracy not anarchy or socialism.

Hanna
Corona

The man is just trying to keep new Yorkers healthy. Sugar, junk food, and cigarettes are all disgusting vices that need to be used in moderation. Unfortunately there are too many people who use these items daily. While he's at it he should charge obese people double to ride trains and buses.

Lisa
Cobble Hill

Nearly 500 thousand Americans die from cigarette-related illnesses every year. The Mayor's anti-gun initiative is terrific and I applaud him for it--however, why not put his money behind an initiative to prevent the manufacture of cigarettes? It's a documented fact that minorities in particular are addicted--especially to menthol cigarettes. Increased taxes only result in black-market sales and smuggling from out of state as well as uncontrolled counterfeits from China. Increased taxes may reduce smoking to a small degree, but it actually is penalizing people that have a disease--otherwise known as addiction. I'm interested to know if the City's investments include tobacco companies--ditto the Mayor's own investment portfolio.

Sherman
Upper West Side

Too bad our good mayor doesn't put as much emphasis on the prescription drug, beer and alcohol, and marijuana that young people have an easy time getting ahold of.

Charline

If our little mayor were truly concerned about public health, he might step up to the plate on the closure of hospitals all over the city. But apparently access to emergency rooms and acute care facilities don't bother him in the least -- the sound of one hand clapping?

Gretchen - UWS

If he really cared about people. He would pay the 200k+ city workers who have not had a raise in 5 years while he has made everything else in NY go up

Joseph

King Bloomberg, wht next? Ban alcohol beverages from bars, delis, rest,etc,People wake up. What happen to freedom to choice?

Miguel

This idea is well-intended and the Mayor?s proposal makes sense. You'd think that he's some monster listening to all of these detractors, and theories of dark ulterior motives etc, but I think history will show he is a visionary. Why such venom against a proposal to reduce smoking? It's not like it becomes illegal.

Leonard

I believe Bloomberg is basically an insensitive man, I never voted for him and I long for the day when he is out of office. But on this call he is right. Hide the smokes from kids. Smoking has always been painted as glamorous and it's time people saw it for what it is. A disgusting and infectious disease. Hail Emperor Bloomberg.

Ray on the upper west

Ban of not displaying cigarettes works in Sweden! Put in effect a few years ago, it has indeed lowered the amount of sold cigarettes in stores selling this product. It is pure logic, unless you SPECIFICALLY went to the store to buy a specific product, how many times have you not purchased something you did not plan to buy when you went into the store, but specifically items located visible at the cash register do indeed invite you to at least think about purchasing the product! If you wouldn't see the product, you might not buy it at all!

And it IS a governments, a leaderships responsibility to protect its citizens! And definitely not make it easy for someone to hurt and consequently kill themselves! Parents are not and cannot be around their 18 and younger kids 24/7!!! People this is for everyone's own good!!

God bless Bloomberg for having the guts to make such a decision!

Joakim
Harlem

It seems to me that the government wants to dictate people's lives. What gives Bloomberg the right to infringe on the retailers and the citizens of New York. Is it going to stop children from smoking if they are not displayed? No. Cigarettes is what brings revenue to this country. This is a bunch of bull. Government...STAY OUT OF PEOPLES HOUSES AND LIVES

Tyra

I wonder how many of the outraged people...voted for him for a third term. Is it because he's stepping on THIER toes now??? They'll probably vote for his shadow, Christine Quinn too. Like Scotty on the Little Rascals use to always say..."They'll never learn!"

Norm
Upper East side

I am an exsmoker, when I smoked I smoked a brand, which at the time, was not always available; when I smoking I quit by frequently switching brands so that the tobacco did not taste the same. Not being able to see if the brand I did smoke was behind the counter would have caused me to wait on sometimes long lottery lines to ask the Bodega worker if the brand was available, during the time I was quitting choosing a brand I was not used to would have been difficult.

The popular brands will not have a problem with this ban, the smaller brands and specialty tobaccos will. What this really is is a war on smaller business by forcing Bodega owners to redesign. Just like with the soda ban this is Bloomberg's war on smaller businesses

John
Kew Gardens

Bloomberg will go down in history as the most ridiculous mayor ever !!!

Carmen
Bay Ridge

My names Don..Ok so let me tally this.. Pricing cigarettes out of reach of the everday consumer.. An attempt of banning large sugary drinks..an attempt at charging eight dollars to cross all the east river

He has no right to tell us what to do.

Justin

Where are the smoking police? How do you enforce such a law? Don’t the police have enough to do without snooping on every Bodega? I fear this will be another law on the books that never gets enforced. Unless Bloomberg has nothing better to do.

Ben
Brooklyn

Max from Sunset Park here. I work in advertising and marketing and anyone who thinks that both the location and design of cigarettes do not influence children to smoke are fooling themselves. People who are upset about hiding cigarettes are selfish, lazy smokers. we hide pornography - I ask you, What is worse? A magazine that shows nude women or a drug that kills tens of thousands a year.

Has Bloomburg given pay raises to his employees due to all his tax hicks. If so why is he using tax payer money.

Nate

Hi John,

Micheal Bloomberg is a small, sad man. With billions of dollars, with over a decade in office as mayor of nyc, he STILL can't enjoy any of it. You see it in his vainglorious attempts at controlling people's lives; he cannot accept people for who they are. He has to control every little thing he can. Why? I think because every little thing prevents him from actually enjoying his accomplishments. Again, a sad, small man.

Jordan
Flushing

All they going to do is get a friend that is 18 years old to buy it for them. We allowed this to happen to ourselves! Who knows, It might get worst soon!!

Erik

Mayor Bloomberg's motives here are for legacy purposes only. Since his real legacy of saving the NYC public schools has been an outright failure he has latched himself to this so called healthcare issue and concern for all individuals. Please -- could this all be because he lost his Sugary Drink Ban in the courts? Perhaps we should take a look at that and how childish he really can be.

But why the debate -- the City Council will absolutely pass this legislation on Wednesday regardless.

Lisa
UES

So marijuana is decriminalized-which has more carcinogenic properties-but selling cigarettes will be criminalized. The inmates are truly running the asylum.

Jack B.
Queens Village, NY

Hi John,

I do think it will help. I am a former smoker, and because of your story tonight I actually looked at the data on whether or not these "power walls" influence kids to smoke. I found that not only the Surgeon General but other studies show that displays actually do influence kids. I am one of those people who smoked because it was cool and commonplace. And then I smoked because I was addicted. Someone said on your program: "We have to denormalize smoking cigarettes." I absolutely agree. These tobacco companies spend a lot of money to promote their deadly products, why shouldn't someone stand up for public health?

I don't care what his motives are-- I think that these positive changes. The sugary drinks were stupid, however, anything that can keep kids and people from getting addicted to cigarettes is a good thing.

Ellen Upper West Side

Stricker fines for selling to minors. We should enforce laws we already have. Not make new ones. The Mayor needs provide facts to people and allow them to make their own choices. Not make the choices himself for us.

Joe G in Washington Heights

The mayor is gearing up to run for president . If he gets his way with fighting tobacco . He wins.

Guy

I think the Mayor is doing a great thing by asking to cover the cigarettes in the grocery stores. I don't want my children getting any ideas of having a bad habit such as smoking. He's trying to saves lives. What's wrong with that? You, who are against it probably can't control your own children from making that decision. At least he's trying to help. A healthy child is a successful child in the future. He's simply making a suggestion. If you are against being healthy then go get your fix, otherwise work with the mayor and let's start keeping the big apple fresh, not turn rotten!

Edwin

Mayor Bloomberg is clearly trying to pass these laws for our governments own special interest. Obamacare has probably already figured out on average how many millions they could save. Im surprised noone said that if they hide cigarettes, they shouldhide instant tickets such as scratch-offs. Oh wait, the government uses that money to fix schools. I think more kids and children that go into deli's look at the scratchoffs behind the counter rather than cigarettes. And after the soda ban, that was societies win, now its Bloombergs turn to win the arguement so I am confident these new laws will pass.

G.R.

NY Government should have dealt with this issue way before BIoomberg came to office. I am not a fan of his administration, but whoever thinks product placement in stores doesn't have influence on a purchasers decision is kidding themselves. It is a actually a science. ask 7Eleven. Why do you think these are referred to as impulse items. I do not agree with the previous soda size ban which included ruling over both children as adults and if you are going to regulate a portion for soda then you should regulate how many cigarette boxes a person can buy in a specific purchase too, and many other things which are hazardous to our health. that would be ridiculous. But I do agree with this because every time our children go into a store this poison is promoted the same way a candy is: by it's attractive package. We all have experienced going to the store to buy one item and come out with 5 or more because we are visually being targeted by ads in every corner every second of the day, or when we are watching T.V. about to start cooking and end up ordering out because we saw a pizza commercial. MEDIA ADS WORK! How do you think this economy got to where it is today? Because companies create a necessity in us to buy their product. Thing we don't even need. Cigarettes are no exception.

To the lady who said it is not up to government to save lives unless it's an epidemic, I would ask her should we not call 911 if we have a burglar in our house or if our house is on fire? And do we really think this is not an epidemic? The same way all companies have advertise to all of us on T.V. since early childhood and influenced our mind set on what we would like to purchase, is the same way they continue to do it with our children. It's not a Bloomberg issue but an adults protecting children and youth issue.

Pedro

Please Bloomberg
Really health reasons
Yet we stu have McDonald's Wendy's and Dunkin donuts with the sugary coffee drinks and unhealthy food What about alchohol ?
That kills more people
Thank smoking yet the government makes too much money from those companies It's a joke just make fat people pay more make smokers pay more that's the key making us pay more

Jim UWS

I started smoking when I was young, around 15. Wish I never had. It's a terrible habit that provides no value and is extremely hard to give up, I still smoke and hate the fact that I do. Anything Bloomberg does to make that not happen to the next generation and even make it harder for me to continue I'm all for it. Harder to get, socially unacceptable, more expensive, time to quit.

Lex

The problem is that Bloomberg was elected Mayor, not king. People who have God complexes usually end up in the looney bin. Billionaires like him end up in expensive looney bins. This new initiative is probably the dumbest idea he’s had yet. Do you really believe that anyone who walks into a store to buy cigarettes will be deterred from purchasing them if they are not in plain sight? And if he really cared about our health more than he cares about real estate development, why didn’t he open his mouth when St. Vincent’s Hospital and other hospitals were closed?

Jay

I think government shouldn't get involved in peoples lives, everyone makes their own choices , whether is about sugary drinks or tobacco sell. Mayor Bloomberg should worry about the people sleeping in the streets that have nothing to eat , its a cold winter.

Edwin
Woodhaven, NY