Rhode Island Senate President Dominick Ruggerio (D-North Providence) is facing a slew of criticism. That’s after the longtime state lawmaker made disparaging comments toward casino workers who want their places of employment to be fully smoke-free.
Appearing last week on the 200th episode of the “Rhode Island Report,” a weekly podcast produced by The Boston Globe and PBS that covers state news, Ruggerio was asked where he stands on the casino smoking issue. Rhode Island is home to two commercial casinos, Bally’s Twin River Lincoln and Bally’s Tiverton.
A grassroots coalition of casino workers who want a smoke-free workplace formed a local chapter of Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE) in May 2022. Their voice was heard by at least two state lawmakers, state Rep. Teresa Tanzi (D-Narragansett) and state Sen. Susan Sosnowski (D-South Kingstown). They introduced legislation that seeks to close the indoor smoking loophole afforded to the two casinos through the state’s Public Health and Workplace Safety Act. The state law was implemented in March 2005 and prohibits smoking in most public places.
Appearing last week on the 200th episode of the “Rhode Island Report,” a weekly podcast produced by The Boston Globe and PBS that covers state news, Ruggerio was asked where he stands on the casino smoking issue. Rhode Island is home to two commercial casinos, Bally’s Twin River Lincoln and Bally’s Tiverton.
A grassroots coalition of casino workers who want a smoke-free workplace formed a local chapter of Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE) in May 2022. Their voice was heard by at least two state lawmakers, state Rep. Teresa Tanzi (D-Narragansett) and state Sen. Susan Sosnowski (D-South Kingstown). They introduced legislation that seeks to close the indoor smoking loophole afforded to the two casinos through the state’s Public Health and Workplace Safety Act. The state law was implemented in March 2005 and prohibits smoking in most public places.