Story by 89 WLS reporter Bill Cameron

(CHICAGO) At City Hall, a warning that more street violence may be coming for a new reason.

 

West Side Alderman Jason Ervin denies the tobacco industry put him up to it, but he says the latest city and county cigarette tax hikes ought to be repealed to prevent street violence. He says cigarettes are now so expensive there’s a bigger black market for them.

 

“There’s definitely crime associated with this and this could be the next big crime wave that we see because when you’re arguing over dollars, violence follows,” Ervin said. “And in the wake of violence that we’re seeing in our city surrounding drugs, this has the potential of becoming that type of situation as well.”

 

Chances of repealing tax hikes on cigarettes are nil.

 

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