Trump: No A.C. smoking ban

Earlier this week Donald Trump came out vehemently against the proposed smoking ban in Atlantic City that is being considered by the city’s council.

Trump, who obviously has a vested interest as a casino owner in the city, has threatened legal action if the ban is adopted.

According to a story at the Press of Atlantic City’s Web site:

“It’s a sad day for Atlantic City,” Trump said in an interview Thursday. “It puts Atlantic City at a huge competitive disadvantage with casinos in other states.”

Trump’s comments came the day after City Council unanimously introduced a measure that would outlaw smoking on the casino floor beginning Oct. 15, but would allow customers to smoke in lounges away from the slot machines and gaming tables. The ordinance, scheduled for a final vote in two weeks, would abolish the limited casino smoking areas currently allowed under the city’s “75-25″ law. Smoking is permitted on 25 percent of the casino floor under the partial smoking ban, now a year old.

Whole thing here.

Trump is a nonsmoker in his personal life.

Trump’s pitch against the smoking ban is a bottom line issue — he has warned that the ban could mean millions in lost revenue, which would also mean lost tax revenue for the state of New Jersey.