New York AG announces CNY funding from settlement with JUUL over youth vaping

SYRACUSE — Counties in Central New York, the Mohawk Valley, the North Country, and Southern Tier, along with BOCES in each region, are getting millions from the state’s settlement with JUUL Labs Inc. for its role in the youth vaping “epidemic.” Central New York is getting $4.7 million; the Mohawk Valley, $3.4 million; the North Country, more than $3 million; and the Southern Tier, $4.5 million. The regional money is part of the $462 million multistate settlement with JUUL, New York State Attorney General Letitia James said in announcing the awards. James announced the Central New York dollar amount during a June 18 visit to Public Service Leadership Academy at Fowler High School in Syracuse. The youth vaping led to a “dangerous rise” in underage e-cigarette use nationwide, according to James. Altogether, New York was awarded a total of $112.7 million through the settlement, which the attorney general is distributing to every county, Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), and the five largest cities in the state to support programs that will help reduce and prevent underage vaping. “Like the big tech companies that have fueled a mental health crisis among young people with their addictive products, JUUL marketed its dangerous and addictive vapes to children, putting millions at risk,” James contended in a news release. “Across our state, e-cigarette use among kids spiked after JUUL hit the market. I’m proud that my office ensured JUUL paid for the damage they did to young people. The funds we secured will help schools and communities in Central New York fight back against the youth vaping epidemic. I thank all of my partners in government for their partnership in this effort to protect our children.” James sued JUUL in November 2019 for what she said was its “deceptive and misleading marketing that glamorized vaping and targeted young people.”

Funding distribution

Central New York Counties

• Cayuga County — $397,684.96
• Cortland County —$276,771.10
• Madison County — $396,519.43
• Onondaga County — $1,452,272.89
• Oswego County — $582,809.54

School Districts / BOCES

• Syracuse City School District — $322,481.76
• Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES — $188,908.33
• Onondaga-Cortland-Madison BOCES — $857,352.80
• CiTi BOCES in Oswego —$299,339.81
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Mohawk Valley Counties

• Fulton County — $377,149.09
• Herkimer County — $338,122.50
• Montgomery County — $302,440.88
• Oneida County — $849,282.44
• Otsego County — $257,184.58
• Schoharie County — $255,547.66

BOCES

• Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery BOCES — $244,033.35
• Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES — $146,946.02 
• Madison-Oneida BOCES — $231,265.86
• Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES — $355,157.99
• Otsego-Delaware-Schoharie-Greene BOCES — $123,038.86

North Country Counties

• Clinton County — $398,962.14
• Essex County — $278,594.49
• Franklin County — $372,792.31
• Hamilton County — $181,640.73
• Jefferson County — $531,347.19
• Lewis County — $261,994.63
• Saint Lawrence County — $383,711.63

BOCES

• Clinton-Essex-Warren-Washington BOCES — $226,598.54
• Franklin-Essex-Hamilton BOCES — $128,010.19
• Jefferson-Lewis-Oneida-Hamilton-Herkimer BOCES — $368,831
• Saint Lawrence-Lewis BOCES — $232,632.83

 Southern Tier Counties

• Broome County — $596,588.77
• Chemung County — $509,170.60
• Chenango County — $351,784.56
• Delaware County — $315,519.52
• Schuyler County — $216,589.36
• Steuben County — $450,048.88
• Tioga County — $323,674.26
• Tompkins County — $473,932.88

BOCES

• Broome-Delaware-Tioga BOCES — $464,006.41
• Delaware-Chenango-Madison-Otsego BOCES — $184,030.60
• Greater Southern Tier BOCES — $439,444.00
• Tompkins-Seneca-Tioga BOCES — $183,380.64