Last week Philadelphia became the largest city to ban smoking in public housing. That reign could be short-lived as Assistant Assembly Speaker, Felix Ortiz a Democrat from Brooklyn, NY is pushing for a similar ban.
The bill would ban smoking in and on the grounds of any public housing in New York state. According to the bill, 50 percent of public house would immediately prohibit smoking with additional units going smoke free as they become vacant. Any new housing would be smoke free and he hopes that by January 2020 all public house will be smoke free.
According to Ortiz, “I first introduced this bill in 2005 in an effort to bring greater public health conditions to our residents in public housing units and I will continue fighting for its passage until all public housing is smoke free.“
