Resident cracking down on illegal cigarette sales
Local man uses new law, Web site
in his crusade
By sue m. morgan
Staff Writer

If Madison Park resident Louis Valentino hears that merchants operating in Old Bridge have sold cigarettes to minors, he says he will personally visit their store and tell them they are breaking the law.

He will also have the paperwork to prove it.

Valentino, a retiree and father — who successfully lobbied for the passage of a township ordinance requiring that merchants found guilty of selling cigarettes to minors hang up a sign telling customers of the conviction — has embarked on a one-man crusade to dissuade underage smoking in the township.

The retiree and ex-smoker is so adamant about his cause that he has created a Web site to get the word out about the ordinance to merchants and the general public. He even wants to set up a nonprofit organization whose main focus would be curtailing smoking among teenagers with the help of township merchants.

The ordinance that was approved 6-3 by the Township Council Sept. 9, and requires merchants convicted of selling cigarettes to minors to post a sign in their store to that effect, takes effect Sunday. It also calls for the signage advising customers of the merchant’s offense to remain prominently posted for six months after a conviction.

Valentino publicly thanked Mayor Barbara Cannon and the council for supporting the ordinance at Monday night’s council meeting.

Some merchants, however, complained that the ordinance targets minority business owners.

"Putting up a sign presents a prejudice against Indian-Americans," said Rudy Patel, a local merchant and township resident.

Of the numerous convenience stores and gas stations doing business in the township, 75 percent are owned and operated by Asian-Indian natives or their descendants, Patel had said earlier in the meeting.

Speaking during the meeting’s second public portion, Valentino disputed the statement that the requirements of the ordinance target Asian-Indian business owners.

Patel was not present when Valentino addressed that issue in the second public session.

"[The law] has nothing to do with any ethnic nationality," Valentino said. "This is for criminals."

Valentino also told the council about his Web site at www.oldbridgewatch.com, which explains the implications of the new law. The names of any offending businesses will also be listed there, he said.

Valentino invited the merchants to join his organization, Old Bridge Watch, once it is up and running.

"I would like to set up a nonprofit organization that would allow store owners to participate and to make a statement that they will not sell cigarettes to minors," Valentino said.

Any contributions received by his organization would be used to pay expenses, with the balance going to the local DARE program, Valentino said.

"We want to make this into a positive thing," Valentino said.

Recalling how he was angered after discovering last year that a local convenience store had illegally sold cigarettes to his then 13-year-old daughter and other minors, Valentino addressed any opponents of the ordinance.

"For those of us that might have an opposing view; if it was your daughter and the rest of the neighborhood getting the cigarettes, you’d be concerned, too."

Valentino further disputed Ward 1 Councilman Joseph Hoff’s previous argument that the ordinance was too intrusive. In voting against the ordinance, Hoff described the law as a "Big Brother" measure that could lead to police eventually regulating smoking by adults.

"The only persons who have to worry about Big Brother are the criminals," Valentino said.

Hoff, a 73-year-old father and grandfather, took exception to Valentino’s remark.

"I had seven children. It was my obligation to teach my children," Hoff said. "I told them about cigarettes, alcohol and drugs."

"That is my job as a parent," Hoff continued. "I don’t need you to tell me how to raise my children, and I won’t tell you how to raise your children."

In addition to Hoff, Ward 5 Councilman Richard Greene and Ward 6 Councilwoman Lucille Panos had also cast dissenting votes at the Sept. 9 meeting.

During discussion, Panos had reasoned that if signs were to be posted indicating which stores had sold cigarettes to minors, liquor stores selling to underage customers should be required to do the same.

At that time, Valentino disputed Panos’ reasoning, arguing that convenience stores, unlike liquor stores, sell other products besides cigarettes.

Greene had objected to the measure out of concern that it would hurt small businesses operating in the township. That concern is now shared by Patel and other affected merchants.

Kiran Desai, a township resident and an independent accountant whose clientele includes many store owners, expressed support for Valentino’s movement, but asked the council to rescind and revise the ordinance.

Merchants should not be mandated to post the sign until after they have been convicted two or three times within a 24-month period, said Desai, who also chairs the township’s Zoning Board of Adjustment.

"Give them a second chance to not break the law," he said.

However, despite the objections, Valentino is still determined to see the law enforced.

"If you’re not doing anything wrong, you have nothing to fear," he said.

Valentino called the measure "a tool to help parents by informing them." He is incensed by arguments that the measure could be perceived as anti-business.

"So [store owners] will sacrifice the kids for a buck," Valentino said. "I don’t want a business that sells cigarettes to minors."

Valentino filed a complaint against the A-1 Market and Subway shop on Bordentown Avenue August 2001, after learning that his daughter had purchased cigarettes there. The store’s owners eventually pleaded guilty to the charges and paid a $200 fine, Valentino said.

However, upon learning from his daughter that the same market had sold cigarettes to other minors, Valentino began pushing for a penalty more financially severe than the fine.

"It wasn’t even a slap on the wrist," Valentino said.

After contacting both Cannon and his ward representative, Council President Reggie Butler, Valentino began pushing for a law requiring stores to post the sign informing potential customers of the conviction. Cannon and Butler both supported his idea, Valentino said.

Valentino presented his idea for the ordinance at a council meeting this summer. The ordinance came to fruition with its passage last month.

"We finally have something on the books that has teeth," Valentino said. "We can hit them in the pocketbook where it hurts."

Valentino, who said he formerly smoked two-and-a-half packs of cigarettes a day, told Greater Media Newspapers that he lost his mother, a tobacco addict, to cancer. Motivated against seeing the same addiction take hold of his daughter, he began his anti-smoking campaign.

While picking up his daughter from a class at Old Bridge High School’s west campus this summer, Valentino was further troubled when he observed teenagers smoking on school grounds, despite the presence of a police officer. The officer did nothing to stop the teens from smoking, he said.

Valentino subsequently complained to the police department about that officer’s lack of action. That complaint is still pending.

He said he is also upset by the lack of police action against teenagers he has observed smoking at football games at the west campus. Ultimately, he would like to see the police enforce the existing ordinance prohibiting smoking by minors in public places.

Valentino does not believe that asking police to enforce the ordinance constitutes abdication of his parental responsibilities. Police should, however, keep parents informed.

As for the sign ordinance, Valentino is unaware of any other municipality in the country that has such an ordinance.

"There is no other law like this in the country," Valentino said. "I hope that Old Bridge can be a model."

Valentino said his daughter has supported him in his campaign, and that she has also entered a smoking cessation program.

"I’m very proud of my daughter," he said.