Solomon Rented to Head Shop Across from School Before City Tobacco Ban
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Providence City Council President and Mayoral candidate Michael Solomon voted to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products aimed at children in 2012, but in 2004, purchased a building in Cranston that was home to a head shop featured in PotLocator.com, and situated several hundred feed from the then-St. Matthews School.
When the First Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed in 2013 the validity of Providence's anti-tobacco laws, Solomon said at the time, "The Court's decision is a big win for Providence. We have been working hard to protect our children from the dangerous, addictive habit of tobacco use, and today's ruling upholding our anti-tobacco ordinances will help us build a healthier, stronger and safer city for our children."
Land records show that Solomon acquired the property in 2004, but the structure burned down to the ground in 2012.
Smoking Focus
In 2002, the head shop was featured as part of a Providence Phoenix article, under the heading "The Best Places to Get Phunked Up."
"The selection of blown glass (ranging from $25 to $390) is infinite at Phunky Stuff, and the requisite back room cove is filled with water and hookah pipes in all shapes and sizes at reasonable prices," wrote the Phoenix in the piece, noting the "tobacco-use only equipment" was on once side of the store intended for ages 18 and up.
Meanwhile, the City of Providence was working to halt the sale and promotion of tobacco products. In a release following the favorable court ruling, the City explained the rationale behind the decisions.
"Providence's anti-tobacco laws prevent the sale of fruit- and candy-flavored, non-cigarette tobacco products and ban tobacco pricing and promotional strategies. The City Council adopted the ordinances and Mayor Taveras signed them into law based on research that shows strong public policy and careful oversight of tobacco helps to reduce youth smoking rates."
City Continues to Address Tobacco, Smoking
GoLocal recently reported on Rhode Island's "toxic debt" from the use of tobacco bonds, following the state's efforts to balance the budget in 2002 and 2007 from tobacco settlement money.
"When tobacco companies agreed to turn over this money to compensate the victims who were mislead about the deadly effects of smoking, that's what the states should have spent the money on," Karina Holyoak Wood, Director of Tobacco Free Rhode Island told GoLocal . "Now we're living with the legacy today of leaders who didn't use that money to help people with their battles against lung cancer, or provide cheaper coverage -- we were meant to put that money into prevention, which is the best strategy.
In July, Solomon along with City Councilman Seth Yurdin proposed legislation to ban smoking in public parks in the city.
Council President Solomon said at the time, “The Council has a strong track record of adopting laws that protect children from the dangers of tobacco. By prohibiting the use of tobacco products in our parks, playgrounds, and recreation centers, we will reduce the amount of exposure our kids have to nicotine and second-hand smoke, as well as the health risks associated with tobacco."
Related Slideshow: Questions Michael Solomon Needs to Answer to be Providence’s Next Mayor
To be the next Mayor of the City of Providence - Michael Solomon is going to need to answer some important questions about his record, his experience and his vision for Providence.
Solomon need to win a three-way primary against Brett Smiley and Jorge Elorza. If successful in the Democratic primary, then he will face GOP candidate Dan Harrop, independent Lorne Adrain, and the 800-pound gorilla -- Buddy Cianci.
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