NYACS Legislative Committee Chairman Rene Patterson, right, of Quickway Food Stores, Binghamton NY, presents a “Tax Fairness Tiger” Award to New York State Senator Jeff Klein, center, of the Bronx. Looking on is NYACS President Jim Calvin.
New York State Senator Mike Nozzolio, center, receives a “Tax Fairness Tiger” Award from NYACS Board of Directors member Case Marshall, right, of Pit Stop Convenience Stores, Weedsport NY, and NYACS President Jim Calvin.
New York State Assemblyman William Magee, center, receives a “Tax Fairness Tiger” Award from NYACS Board of Directors member Peter Tamburro, right, of Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes, Canastota NY, and NYACS President Jim Calvin.
Jim Clifford of Clifford Fuel Co. Inc., Utica NY, a member of the NYACS Board of Directors, presents a “Tax Fairness Tiger” Award to New York State Assemblyman David Townsend Jr., center. NYACS President Jim Calvin is at left.

NYACS Honors 4 ‘Tax Fairness Tigers’

 

 The New York Association of Convenience Stores proudly presented “Tax Fairness Tiger” awards to four state legislators recognizing their assertive leadership of the years-long crusade to restore a level playing field for retailers of cigarettes and gasoline in New York State.
   Senator Jeff Klein of the Bronx, Senator Michael Nozzolio of Seneca Falls, Assemblyman Bill Magee of Oneida, and Assemblyman David Townsend Jr. of Sylvan Beach were honored at NYACS’ annual legislative reception January 26, 2009, in Albany.
   Cigarette tax evasion has become so prevalent in the Empire State that more than half of New York smokers openly admit buying “tax free” cigarettes from Native American stores, the Internet, and/or the black market. This ever-widening crisis has crippled tax-collecting convenience stores, squandered billions of dollars in desperately needed tax revenue, promoted lawlessness, and thwarted anti-smoking initiatives.
   “For 20 years, our industry has waged a battle to compel the Executive Branch of state government to curb this tax evasion epidemic,” said James Calvin, NYACS President. “It’s been a long, hard, costly, frustrating experience for all of us, and we still have not reached the goal. But there has been progress, thanks to the unflinching determination of these four elected officials.”
   Sometimes individually, other times together, the “Tax Fairness Tigers” have issued research papers documenting the loss of tax revenue and business activity due to cigarette tax evasion and smuggling, sponsored legislation designed to restore tax fairness and curtail Internet tobacco traffic, issued press releases, lobbied the governor, and even sued the governor and the state tax department.
   He said the four “have showed courage, persistence and ingenuity in advancing the cause of tax fairness. Adhering to the fundamental principle that if you’re going to tax, you need to tax this guy as well as that guy, they have refused give in to three consecutive governors intent on maintaining the status quo.”
   “We salute these champions of the cause of equitable taxation, these Tax Fairness Tigers,” said Calvin. “We thank them for all they have done for our industry, and for the taxpayers of New York. And we pledge our continued support as we all work together, striving to tame the tax evasion jungle.”