Proposed tax on cigarettes sold at Native American stores has Gov. Paterson fretting

Kenneth Lovett and Larry Mcshane New York Daily News 08/26/2010 16:16

Gov. Paterson says it's a 'dangerous situation' if the State decides to push through with collecting taxes on cigarettes sold at American Indian stores.

Gov. Paterson Thursday warned of possible "violence and death" as a result of his plan to collect a $4.35-per-pack tax on smokes sold by American Indian stores.

"There will be quite an uprising and protest to this, but I am going to maintain this policy," Paterson told WOR-AM.

"This is a very dangerous situation," the governor said. "There is - I think - a high alert. The state police tell us over and over again that there could be violence and death as a result of some of the measures we're taking."

Previous attempts to impose the cigarette tax - under governors Mario Cuomo and George Pataki - led to protests that sometimes turned ugly.

In 1997, American Indians burned tires on the New York State Thruway - and shut down a 30-mile stretch of the highway.

Some troopers were hurt in scuffles during the demonstrations, but there was no record of any deaths or serious wounds, state cops said Thursday.

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