TRUCKEE MEADOWS PARKS FOUNDATION PRESENTS the greater the incentive to engage in black market activity. Government then attempts to regulate black market activity by imposing ‘costs’ such as going to jail if one is caught, etc. In the case of [alcohol] prohibition, the official price was essentially infinity while the unofficial market price was considerably less—hence, bathtub gin.” When does it happen? “The price difference has to be larger than the ‘transactions cost’ (broadly defined to include the probability of being caught) of the black-market activity.” The California initiative petition, announced in May but not filed until early this month, would raise cigarette taxes by $2-a-pack. The money generated would be used for treatment, research and prevention of cancer and tobacco related diseases. There are two versions being circulated for signatures. Whether they will make it onto the ballot depends on more than whether the signatures are obtained. The initiative drive is apparently intended to put pressure on the California Legislature, where several anti-smoking bills this year have been shelved. Measures to raise tobacco taxes, curb marketing, and define electronic cigarettes as tobacco products have been shunted aside by the California Assembly’s
“ In California, the tax is $8.70 per carton. Here it’s $18 per carton.” Steve Moran Reno Sparks Indian Colony
Governmental Organization Committee, many of whose members have been recipients of substantial tobacco money. The initiative was filed by the Save Lives California Coalition, made up of health organizations like the California Medical Association, American Heart Association, American Lung Association in California, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, California Dental Association, Tobacco Free Kids and Health Access California, plus the Service Employees International Union of California. It is being supported also by billionaire hedge fund manager Tom Steyer, a sort of liberal Koch. If the initiative drive succeeds in reviving any of those measures— such as Sen. Richard Pan’s $2 a pack bill—the initiatives would no longer be necessary. A tax hike by either method would have the same impact on Nevada, though the initiative route would take longer. Ω
MOVIE SCREENING & LIVE SCORE AT 6:30PM
CARNIVAL GAMES FACE PAINTING PHOTOBOOTH PUMPKIN DECORATING FOOD TRUCKS RAFFLE PRIZES COSTUME CONTESTS LIVE MUSIC $8 in advance at our website
$10 at the door Kids 12 and under are free
For tickets, visit our website at tmparksfoundation.org
All proceeds will go towards funding the 2016 TMPF Summer Camp
Change PHOTO/DENNIS MYERS
A worker does prep work on the former Sparks Tribune building, which started out in life as the Sparks Post Office. The Trib has now moved out of the downtown to Glendale Road and its former home is being retooled into a printing company. The faint image of the Tribune name on the wall here has been painted out since the photo was taken.
OPINION
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NEWS
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GREEN
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FEATURE STORY
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ARTS&CULTURE
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ART OF THE STATE
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FOODFINDS
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FILM
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MUSICBEAT
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NIGHTCLUBS/CASINOS
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THIS WEEK
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MISCELLANY
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OCTOBER 22, 2015
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RN&R
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