As we have reported, the Department of Housing and Urban Development has been pushing for the Public Housing Authority to make the properties smoke free. Today, that move will become more than a push as a federal rule proposal would prohibit smoking in apartments and common areas as well as the administrative offices.
The measure would affect one million households across the United States.
Having lived in New York City, home to the largest public housing system in the USA I have witnessed first hand the issues that plague the residents. From gangs, to drug sales, to prostitution and the shooting of a New York City Police officer in cold blood recently.
Yet, the public housing agency instead of cleaning up the “projects” and providing a safe environment for the families that live there are now going after tobacco users. The move would strip their freedoms to live their lives how they see fit and further make their living conditions similar to that of prison.
In 2009, the federal government began an unofficial press to curb smoking and currently 200,000 households have voluntarily barred indoor smoking according to a published report in the New York Times.
While it unclear who would enforce such a measure the rule would apply to cigarettes, cigars and pipes but not initially apply to electronic smoking devices.
The public will have 60 days to comment on the proposal and individual housing agencies would be given up to 18 months from the date of the final rule to put their smoke-free policies in place.
