Mineola NY-Nassau County's smoking law is still in effect, with enforcement only waylaid, according to Nassau County Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury). "We are immediately appealing."

A United States District Judge ordered yesterday that the enforcement of Nassau County's smoking law be temporarily halted until additional review can take place, according to Jacobs. However, this injunction against enforcing the law does not overturn the law.

"We find it regrettable that a law passed with the singular goal of saving lives has now been waylaid," said Jacobs.

"We remain very proud of our leadership on this issue and proud that the state modeled its bill after Nassau's and regardless of what the final outcome is regarding our law; the Nassau law is forever embodied in the state law," said Deputy Presiding Officer Roger Corbin (D-Westbury). The Nassau law went into effect on March 1, 2003 and was supported along party lines, with Republican legislators opposing the ban. The Nassau's law was followed weeks later by the New York City smoking ban and subsequently, a New York State Smoking law.

"We are very proud of our leadership on this issue," said Jacobs, who along with her fellow majority legislators, was a supporter of the County law. Nassau's bill was sponsored by Health Committee Chairman Corbin, Brian Muellers (D-Locust Valley) and Michael Zapson (D-Long Beach). "This is the only municipality in the country in which saving lives has become a partisan issue," said Legislator Jacobs.