Dear Editor,
Thank you for publishing the enlightening story on the real impact of Proposition 86.
California residents should be insulted that the special interest groups think they can line their own pockets by bleeding Californians dry through excessive taxation.
If Prop. 86 were to pass, the immediate impact would be for small, locally owned and operated businesses like Morgan Hill Tobacco Company to go out of business, but the long term effect is even more scary.
Taxing tobacco products at such an insanely high rate will only drive sales out of the state. This will result in LESS tax revenue from being generated by the state than is generated now. Without the revenues from this Proposition going to their bottom line as expected, where will the special interests turn next?
Also, the tax will create a huge black market opportunity that will undoubtedly be exploited. Can California really afford to create a situation that will lead to more crime in our communities?
Prop. 86 is a proposition that is intended to sound good on the surface, but when you look at it more closely and think about the real impact you realize it is completely flawed. Thank you for shedding some much needed light on this very unfortunate proposition.
I encourage everyone to vote no on Prop. 86.
Adam Hollman, Gilroy
