According to the
American Lung Association, cigarette smoking is the No. 1 cause of
preventable disease in the U.S. HUD advises that Environmental Tobacco
Smoke can migrate between units in multi-family housing, causing
respiratory illness, heart disease, cancer and other adverse health
effects in neighboring families, so smoking areas inside don't protect
residents. Concerning the non-smoking residents, according to the
Surgeon General of the United States, second-hand smoke causes almost
50,000 deaths in adult nonsmokers in the U.S. each year, including
approximately 3,400 from lung cancer and another 22,000 to 69,000 from
heart disease, not to even mention the deaths from actually smoking
cigarettes, which the Center for Disease Control states is an average of
110,889 deaths per year.
We are not here to force people to stop smoking but to guarantee all residents that they can live in a healthy environment which will not jeopardize their health. All residents should be able to breathe safe air. Residents need clean air, not increments of clean air.
Normally our frail and disabled residents leave our buildings. We also meet with residents monthly and have daily police patrols and police resident meetings. We had more people show up for meetings concerned about cigarettes than bullets being fired. It appears the author of Our Opinion did not read the draft housing policy and smoke free lease addendum which allows, on request, a temporary smoking exemption until their lease renewal date.
HUD strongly encourages public housing authorities to implement non-smoking policies. Across the nation, housing authorities are implementing smoke-free building policies to provide safe air, prevent disease and save lives.
Electronic cigarettes hardly just admit water vapor. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration have found that electronic cigarettes contain carcinogens and toxic chemicals such as diethylene glycol, an ingredient used in antifreeze. The nicotine and chemicals affect the breathing of the person inhaling the cigarette and their chemicals cause second-hand vapor that has not been proven to be safe for other people. Australia, Canada, Israel and Mexico have banned electronic cigarettes.
It's hard to rationalize tax supported housing actually harming people who are of lower income. The goal is safe air for all.
RICHARD D. FOX
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
YORK HOUSING AUTHORITY
We are not here to force people to stop smoking but to guarantee all residents that they can live in a healthy environment which will not jeopardize their health. All residents should be able to breathe safe air. Residents need clean air, not increments of clean air.
Normally our frail and disabled residents leave our buildings. We also meet with residents monthly and have daily police patrols and police resident meetings. We had more people show up for meetings concerned about cigarettes than bullets being fired. It appears the author of Our Opinion did not read the draft housing policy and smoke free lease addendum which allows, on request, a temporary smoking exemption until their lease renewal date.
HUD strongly encourages public housing authorities to implement non-smoking policies. Across the nation, housing authorities are implementing smoke-free building policies to provide safe air, prevent disease and save lives.
Electronic cigarettes hardly just admit water vapor. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration have found that electronic cigarettes contain carcinogens and toxic chemicals such as diethylene glycol, an ingredient used in antifreeze. The nicotine and chemicals affect the breathing of the person inhaling the cigarette and their chemicals cause second-hand vapor that has not been proven to be safe for other people. Australia, Canada, Israel and Mexico have banned electronic cigarettes.
It's hard to rationalize tax supported housing actually harming people who are of lower income. The goal is safe air for all.
RICHARD D. FOX
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
YORK HOUSING AUTHORITY
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