WDYT?? Smoking in public housing - Page 2

I'm usually so conservative but I'm really torn on this one.

 

I support the ban because housing assistance residents usually can't afford renter's insurance so, with the increased risk of fire, there is almost zero chance of the government recovering any money on a loss that a smoker might cause. The department that runs the housing programs have a responsibility to tax payers to guard the investment we've made in those apartments. With the same thought process, though, the apartments should ban candles and BBQs - anything with an open flame. If they did that and didn't just ban smoking, that would make sense to me. BTW, the apartment where I am now does ban candles (yeah, how would they know, right?) and BBQs can only be propane since there is no safe way for us to dispose of ashes. We're also required to have renters insurance.

 

On the other hand, many housing assistance residents DO pay some rent. It may not be a lot but it is rent and they are true tenants in that the inside of the apartment IS their home; their castle. Smoking is not illegal. Would the apartment ban the adult residents from drinking alcohol? Getting tattoos? Why are they picking on smokers? One could argue that being forced to quit smoking just to have a safe place to sleep is the wrong time to try to stop smoking. What about the cancer patient that simply can't stop? What about the smoker who is under so much stress, smoking is their last vestige of freedom and relief? I think of my MIL who has smoked for more than 60 years. Her days are bland. She is just marking time until she dies. She sleeps most of the time, waking only to go have a smoke. I hate that she smokes and I wish she'd give it up, but I have to admit that at least that cigarette gets her up and out of bed periodically.

 

BTW, my DD has asthma. She isn't allowed to play at a house / apartment where a smoker lives. She can invite her friends here but they can't play at their house. One day DD told me one of her friend's mom was giving up smoking just so DD could be invited for a sleep-over. Yeah right. We'll have moved long before that happens.

 

 

 

Beer and tattoos are not going to turn the walls yellow or leave a stench all over the apartment. I've never walked into someone's home and instantly knew that they drank alcohol or had a tattoo, just by the smell.

Took the words right out of my mouth!

I don't know. I am anti-tobacco. And I agree smoking in an apartment does drop the value. You just cannot get the smell out. On the other hand, how much control should the government have over people? And yes, I agree with the argument that people would not have enough for cigarettes if this person had to pay full prices on their groceries and housing. I just am not sure if I want tom give the government that much power and how difficult it would be to in force such a ban.

I own my home, I smoke, and I don't allow smoking indoors.

If the weather is too nasty to go outside, we go in the laundry room, which opens out onto the back yard, close the door between the laundry room and the house, and smoke in the outside doorway.

Why? I want my house to smell nice when other people come over.

I support the ban. If they don't want government control, they can move out of government property.

 

1) health hazard to non-smokers (esp. children)

2) ruins the property

3) fire hazard

 

I will say, that although I am a smoker, I 100% support the ban.

#1. because, who smokes inside their house anyways these days... yeah... that would reek bad! I do not smoke inside my own house, not even outside if any windows or doors are open.

#2-Its is a fire hazard

#3-Agree that if they have $$ for cigarettes... maybe they have $$ to rent a place on your own... in the meantime, if taxpayers (government) are subsidising their living situation, they should also have a say in the "terms & conditions"

 

I have seem many places for rent that do not allow smoking, besides, im positive a large percentage have kids, and I would not want them smoking inside when the children will be inhailing all that smoke.

 

 

It wouldn't bother me at all!   Even if they pay some rent, the other part is still subsidized, (read: "we" pay for it).  It damages the building, yada yada.

 

Edited by Stormy - 4/28/12 at 10:35pm

I would support it and I think it really sucks when you have to live in an apartment complex and deal with smokers, they want to kill themselves by getting lung cancer fine. but I shouldn't have to breathe it too
 

Unfortantly in a smokers eyes - they are the ones yelling - its my right to do it, Im not hurting anyone else. I must admit as an ex-smoker I actually appreciate the bans. However I am wondering about the ability to enforce this rule.

 

Now I just wish that they would make my husbands work a cigarette free area. That may get him to finally stop.