Move to Ban Smoking in Subsidized Apartments

By DAISY WU

Smokers who live in subsidized housing might soon need to quit the habit or move, if some City Council members have their way.

A bill introduced on Thursday by Queens Councilman Donovan J. Richards is still in its infancy but if passed, would ban smoking in NYCHA and other subsidized housing units, applying to rehabilitated and new housing units.

“Fresh air should not be a luxury for some but it is a human right and should be a luxury for all,” said Richards.

According to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, smoking can cause lung cancer, diabetes, heart diseases, strokes and various other illnesses. Secondhand smoking also is deemde by health experts to be detrimental even if it’s not directly inhaled. Studies from the DOHMH have shown that secondhand smoke contains over 7,000 chemicals which are harmful and a number of them are cancer causing.

The city has been actively involved in the mitigation of smoking and this bill is one piece that is moving the city towards a smoke-free environment. According to NYC Coalition for Smoke Free NYC, smoking is already banned in various public areas such as public parks, plazas, indoor recreational venues, worksites and hospital grounds.

Smokers advocacy groups have branded the bill “class warfare” and “tenant harassment”.