Advisory opinion letter to Mr. Chairman

Dear Mr. Chairman:

More than a year ago I asked your commission for a ruling on the following subject:

I requested that cigarette companies be allowed to advertise their product without the warning disclosures on my telephone line that gives the New York race results. No one under eighteen years of age is allowed to bet by the Offtrack Betting Corporation of New York with whom I have an exclusive contract.

I have gone months without hearing from your Bureau of Consumer Protection, and then have received sporadic letters from them, the last on January 24, 1978 from Russell Hatchl stating “My superior in the Bureau of Consumer Protection determined that a formal commission opinion is inappropriate, because issues of cigarette advertising are pending in the courts.” When might I expect to get a definitive opinion from you?

Sincerely yours,
/s/ Stuart Scheftel
Fourth Staff Response