Public housing kicks smoking habit

[underpants]

Source: USA Today

From California to Maine, at least 36 public housing authorities have made their apartments smoke-free, says Jim Bergman, director of the Smoke-Free Environments Law Project.

Housing officials say they made the change to protect non-smoking tenants from secondhand smoke, prevent cigarette fires and reduce the cost of rehabbing smokers' apartments.

"Smoking does affect the health of your neighbor, and that's where we have to draw the line," says Wayne Pyden, executive director of the Marysville Housing Commission in Michigan. The commission manages a 132-unit building whose low-income residents are elderly or disabled. Secondhand smoke is a concern because air is recirculated and smoke travels into other units, he says.



It costs about $3,000 to prepare a non-smoker's apartment for the next tenant, but a smoker's unit runs as high as $6,000 because of additional painting, cleaning and carpet repair, says Paul Franco, a housing manager in Rancho Mirage, Calif., which began a smoking ban in January.



Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-04-04-public-housing-smoking_N.htm

[Toots]

1. Does smoking have any good qualities at all?

I doubt it but boy howdy does it get defended here on DU. I say good for the owners (the people) of those housing units. It is a win win situation for them but I am sure we are gunna hear the usual "what about cars or industrial polution" What about them? We want them to be fixed to not pollute as well. Or the other canard, "They will be making fat people illegal next".. Sure they will, yah you betcha...

[Book Lover]

3. Yes. Some people like it. (nm)

[AndyTiedye]

2. How Does This Work?

If they declare your apartment "smoke free" you are supposed to instantly give up smoking?

[Alexander]

4. You smoke outside, just like a regular apartment.

If I had been lighting up in the apartments where I've lived, I would have expected to kiss my security deposit good-bye, and/or get evicted.

I fail to see what the problem here is. Need to smoke? Go outside. I smoked, and I had no problem going outside. What's the big deal?

[Matariki]

5. $3000 to $6000 to fix up an apartment for the next tenant!?

and a public housing unit to boot? yeah, right. :eyes: