Blizzard Hampers Anti-Smoking Program

NEW YORK CITY, NY - As finger pointing continues over the city's haphazard response to a devastating winter storm, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg expressed concern about the fate of his no-smoking campaign. "Winter weather is natural but tobacco use is preventable," said the Mayor. "We can't allow a little snow to derail our efforts." Bloomberg triggered criticism for diverting snow plows to bodegas and convenience stores to ensure these businesses displayed posters of diseased lungs designed to frighten smokers. In addition, Bloomberg hired dozens of unemployed actors, sending them out into the storm to roam Manhattan wearing sandwich boards saying, 'Smoking is Not Permitted in New York City.' "Blizzards  make individuals tense," noted the Mayor. "And tension may be used as an excuse to reach for a cigarette. If a potential smoker sees someone wearing a no-smoking sign, it could remind them to think before acting." Many of the actors had not reported back, but Bloomberg was unconcerned. "Those sandwich boards are constructed out of durable wood. In a crisis, you could huddle down inside one tepee style. Once the  storm subsides, our people can return to work and prevent smoking. We're just going to hope for the best. Fortunately, New York City has plenty of actors. However those signs are city property." (Image: dailymail.com.uk)