NEW YORK CITY - Mayor Michael Bloomberg proposed a cigarette display ban legislation yesterday, a measure that would make the Big Apple the nation??s first city to keep tobacco products out of sight at retailers, the New York Times reports.

The proposal next goes to the City Council for consideration, and it is expected to meet stiff resistance from the operators of bodegas and other small stores where cigarettes are sold. It is unclear whether the ban would apply to convenience stores.

Bloomberg has been a strong proponent of anti-smoking initiatives, and his administration has banned smoking in nearly all public spaces within the city. He has also targeted RYO stores, accusing them of evading cigarette taxes.

Since Bloomberg took office in 2002, New York??s smoking rate dropped from 21.0% to 14.8% in 2011. Bloomberg hopes a cigarette display ban would continue that downward trend.

"Based on our initial review of the bill, it appears that it would prevent New York City retailers from displaying tobacco products in their stores to adult tobacco consumers," said Brian May, spokesperson for Altria. "We believe this proposal goes too far and oppose it for numerous reasons."