BP Fossella, Richmond County District Attorney’s Office, City Sheriff to Address Proliferation of Smoke Shops on Staten Island
Staten Island, NY – Borough President Vito Fossella will address the proliferation of smoke shops on Staten Island in a press conference at Borough Hall on Thursday, September 7th at 3:00 PM.
Joining the Borough President are Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Tom Ridges and New York City Sheriff Anthony Miranda, both of whom have been closely involved with enforcing the law regarding smoke shops conducting illegal activities.
Borough President Fossella, Assistant District Attorney Ridges, and Sheriff Miranda will provide updated information on the enforcement of fines and penalties on smoke shops that have conducted illegal activities.
Over the past two years, numerous smoke shops opened on the island, some of which are located within 500 ft of schools or in direct vicinity of train stations. Some of these shops are reported to have sold illicit and unlicensed marijuana, vape products and/or cigarettes. Enforcement power against smoke shops conducting these illegal activities lies with the NYC Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the District Attorney’s Office, NYPD, and the Department of Consumer and Workers Protection. FDNY, the NYC Buildings Department, and Department of Health and Mental Hygiene are called upon when their assistance is necessary.
In attendance: BP Fossella; Tom Ridges, Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations; Anthony Miranda, New York City Sheriff
This press conference provides update on enforcement of smoke shop illegal activity
Banner Image: Smoke shop. Image Credit – Josiah Weiss
BP Vito Fossella
The Office of the Borough President has a responsibility to advocate for the entire Borough of Staten Island and all its residents, and represents the Borough's interests within City government. The Borough President communicates directly with the Mayor and the City Council to emphasize Staten Island’s budget priorities. In addition, the Borough President is responsible for reviewing major land use decisions and proposing sites for city facilities within the Borough. As the chair of the Borough Board, the Borough President leads Staten Island’s City Council delegation and Community Board chairs in the process of reviewing and approving the transfer of public properties to private use. The Borough President’s Office houses the Borough's Topographical Bureau, which maintains the borough’s official maps and assigns street addresses. The Borough President monitors the delivery of city services on Staten Island, and acts as a liaison between residents and city agencies when problems arise to devise solutions. The Borough President is also responsible for appointing one member to the Panel for Educational Policy and one member to the City Planning Commission, as well as some 150 members to Staten Island’s three community boards.