This is Our Last Cance to Save NYS TCP

by Donald Distasio
Chief Executive Officer
American Cancer Society of New York and New Jersey

Over the past two weeks, we have kept you updated on the serious threats to the New York State Tobacco Control Program.  First, the New York State Assembly  voted to eliminate all funding for the New York State Tobacco Control Program.  Now, the Assembly is shifting its position and wants to restore some funds, but wants to cut the advertising and promotion budget for the Program - more than $12 million!

Make no mistake.  Cutting funding for tobacco prevention advertising and promotion will destroy the Tobacco Control Program. 

This is our last chance.  I need your help TODAY to make one final phone call to your Assembly member.  Even if you have called on this issue already, I need you to call again with a NEW message.  

The New York State Tobacco Control Program (TCP) has helped countless New Yorkers beat their addiction to nicotine, saving lives and money.   In 2010 alone, 116,663 tobacco users contacted the NYS Smokers Quitline, a service of the TCP, seeking help in stopping tobacco use.  A key driver of calls to the Quitline are television and other paid advertisements.

More than 40% of callers to the Quitline called as a direct result of an ad they saw or heard.  Medicaid clients and people with no health insurance represent a majority of callers to the Quitline, and they are helped the most by these valuable advertising messages. 

This is our last chance!  Please call today as budget negotiations could wrap up as early as tonight.  

Make the Call

• Introduce yourself and tell them where you are from. If you have called before, tell them that you are calling one last time because of recent developments in the tobacco funding issue. 
• Tell your Assembly member that cutting $12 million in tobacco prevention advertising and promotion will destroy the Tobacco Control Program. 
• Paid advertising is a key driver of calls to the NYS Smokers Quitline.  Medicaid clients who smoke are especially responsive to ads promoting the Quitline and other stop-smoking messages. 
• Urge your Assembly member to tell Speaker Silver to fully restore Tobacco Control Program funding in the final state budget, to this year's level of $58.4 million. 

Once you’ve made your call, please follow the prompts to log your call and let us know how it went.  By logging your call, you help us track how many calls Assembly members are receiving, and what responses they are giving.

This is our last chance.  Don’t let the Assembly destroy Tobacco Control Program funding.  Call your member TODAY before it's too late!

Thank you for your help in saving tobacco control, and ensuring a healthier future for New Yorkers!