Smoking will be prohibited in public housing developments nationwide under a final rule announced Wednesday by the Obama administration.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development has been encouraging local public agencies to enact smoking bans, and some 228,000 public housing units were already smoke-free. The new rule will expand the impact to more than 940,000 units.
In announcing the ban, administration officials emphasized the dangers of secondhand smoke to children, saying it can increase the risk of asthma, ear infections, even sudden infant death syndrome.
“Every child deserves to grow up in a safe, healthy home free from harmful secondhand cigarette smoke,” HUD Secretary Julián Castro said.
The final rule prohibits lit tobacco products in all living units and indoor common areas, and all outdoor areas within 25 feet of housing and administrative offices. The new rule gives public housing agencies 18 months to implement the ban.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the smoke-free policy will save housing agencies $153 million every year in repairs, preventable fires and health care costs. That amount includes $16 million in costs associated with smoking-related fires.
“Protecting people from secondhand smoke saves lives and saves money,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden. “No level of secondhand smoke exposure is safe, and the home is the primary source of secondhand smoke for children.”
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids applauded HUD’s actions, saying “this bold step” would reduce smoking among groups that suffer the most from tobacco-related death and disease. The organization said HUD also should have gone further and applied the ban to electronic cigarettes, though local housing authorities are permitted to do so.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Wonder how long the White House has been tobacco-free? No more Bill Klinton cigars, eh?
How about all gov’t buildings? Any of those still allow inside consumption of tobacco products(other than chaw’s, i s’pose)?
No more smoke-filled FBI/CIA/IRS/BATF/DEA/BLM interrogation rooms?
This shows the total insanity and fascist attitude of members of the “National Socialist Party”! Of course Obummer is one of them along with Bloomberg, Soros et al!
That means that the DC DICTATOR is in Violation of this Ruling…since the White House is Public Housing…Owned by the American People…..So he needs to not smoke his Cigarettes….his WEED….and whatever else he smokes….
Does that include crack pipes?
Perhaps the people that are in government housing can join Obama and go out back of the White House where he probably smokes.
What a joke he is!!!!!!!!
start with NO SMOKING IN THE SWAMP EITHER [DC] FROM THE TOP DOWN
OUTSIDE ONLY IN THE RAIN
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE POTOMAC RIVER…..
Obama is a heavy smoker. That means he cannot smoke in the White House as it is government housing!!!
Excellent point. Though I can’t say I disagree with the smoking ban. No different from any other landlord enacting a smoking ban.
Yes sir Mr. Fascist!
If public housing is for those who can’t afford a “regular” place to live, how come they have money to buy cigarettes? I know a woman who lives in one of those places, and when I saw her buying cigs and beer, my friendship stopped right there. O’bombo still smokes inside the WH so Mr. Trump will have to “fumigate” (Ha, ha) before he moves his family.
Probably have to fumigate for more than just cigs…just sayin’.
He would have to fumigate in any case!
Are they next going to tell us where we can breathe, cough or sneeze?
Yes they will!
For a start ,but think about it,They are already telling us how we can think ,speak ,and act! It’s called Politically correct in the dialect of the new world order fascists!! Reject them on every level or prepare to see an end to a free America!!
Already seeing that.
The king has spoken!!!
You should start with your own in house teens and see what they are using.
Inhaling tobacco smoke is unlawful in tax payer paid for housing, BUT it is okay to inhale Marijuana smoke? How stupid are our government officials? How about the second hand smoke from marijuana Obama? We have a bunch of idiots running this country.
The no smoking in subsidized housing is not new in CA. And no smoking means weed and electronic ones too. In CA if your living in section8 place and smoke in your apt or within 25 feet you can be evicted. Weather it’s a rule at the apartments or not.
Of course pablik house needs be a mrdjesi, free from smoking, it is definitely!
PLEASE and thanks a God
B’Ob the quirky dimwit lived in public housing for eight years and smoking was among his habits….In this case telling public tenants they cannot smoke is a useless waste of time and money but B’Ob and his ego are out to control the world and save it from nasty Ol’ capitalism.self reliance and free speech…….Dingbat that B’Ob is he never seems to learn anything well except how to steal and lie but he plans on hanging around DC to make sure a real credentialed President is up to his moral specifications…imagine that a man with no character or ability to lead is going to blow his wad using OPM……
I am a past smoker (4 packs a day) and am set for life with COPD are horrible health issue. With that being said, no one should legislate what a person does in their home. When the government comes to us and tells us that they are at your home to help you that is when you should beware. This was what Ronald Reagon said back in the early 80’s. What next, someone says that long hair is a major contributore to driving accidents so you must cut your hair every 3 days. Anything goes if you allow the government control of your private life. I hope at sometime smokers will wise up but it is doubtful.
Forgot to say that I quit in January 2000 over 16 years ago…
No smoking in subsidised housing IS AN EXCELLENT IDEA. YES THEY CAN TELL YOU WHAT YOU CAN DO IN THOSE PLACES. 1. THE GOVERNMENT MAY NOT OWN IT BUT THE GOV. IS PAYING 3/4’S OF YOUR RENT. IT’S NOT YOUR HOUSE YOU DON’T OWN IT SO YOU MUST FOLLOW THEIR RULES. 2. SECONDHAND SMOKE IS MORE DEADLY THAN SMOKING. IT’S BEEN PROVEN BY THE CANCER SOCIETY. 3. NO MATTER TYPE OF PLACE YOU LIVE IF YOUR APT
IS CONNECTED TO ANOTHER IN ANYWAY THE TOXIC CIGARETTE FUMES FILTER THRU THE HE ENTIRE BUILDING. 4.IT TAKES HOURS FOR IT TOO FILTER OUT IF AT ALL. I LIVE IN AN OLD VICTORIAN WITH MANY APARTMENTS. WE HAVE THOSE NO SMOKING RULES. BUT A PERSON IN AN APT. ON THE OTHER END OF THE HOUSE SMOKED. AND THE PERSON RIGHT ABOVE ME. I LIVED WITH TOXIC FUMES FOR 4+YRS. I NOW HAVE A SPOT ON MY LUNG AND THYROID.
BY THE WAY I HAVE NEVER EVER SMOKED ANYTHING IN MY LIFE AND I’M IN MY 60’S. THE SPOTS DR. SAYS ARE NOT CANCER…..YET. I GET CKD EVERY 3-6 MO.
IF ANYONE DOESN’T WANT TO FOLLOW THE NO SMOKING RULES FIND A PLACE THAT DOESN’T HAVE THOSE RULES OR BUY YOUR OWN HOUSE NOT CONNECTED TO ANY OTHER. EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO BREATH FRESH CLEAN AIR AND NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO FORCE THEIR BAD HABITS ON ANYONE ELSE.
As the White House IS ALSO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND “housing” give the big eared Kenyan doper 24 hours to move out!
We know the people who live in government housing, they are left leaning for the most part, the majority voted this clown into office, but because they didn’t do as he told them and vote for Hillary the boot is coming down. Can’t really argue they are living in their parents house (the government handout generation) so they really have no say so in the matter. Shouldn’t be surprised by the liberal left and the way they throw a tantrum when they don’t get their way. Going to continue to point it out when it comes to a liberal.
Lying
Insensitive
Bullying
Egotistical
Rude
Asinine
Loudmouths
These are the traits of a Liberal, recognize them and point them out and warn others.
The no smoking in subsidized housing is not new in CA. And no smoking means weed and electronic ones too. In CA if your living in section8 place and smoke in your apt or within 25 feet you can be evicted. Weather it’s a rule at the apartments or not.
Those capital letters spell liberal but actually the words define the conseratives, TRUMP and closed minded REPUBLICANS.
LIBERALS ARE ACTUALLY:
Level headed
Intelligent
Brotherly
Enthusiastic
Realist
Articulate
Loyal
Can you say Obama’s a hypocrite, boys and girls ?
Sure…….. I knew you could.
Public housing is generally reserved for low-income individuals and families. There are better ways they can spend their money than on tobacco and alcohol. If a resident dislikes those rules they are free to move somewhere else.
I’ve heard from people locally over the years that was unhappy about some rule than was placed on them as they lived in public housing. My reply is always the same. No one is forcing you to live in government housing. If you don’t like _____ find a place that allows you to do ____ and move. I don’t think the government is asking too much to try to limit damage to their housing that is caused by tobacco products.
Justin-
Probably a couple of years ago, now, i got an email with a cartoon in it. The cartoon showed someone sitting at a computer, writing a letter. The captions told a story which went something like this:
“I work at a business that requires me to pass drug tests in order to keep my job. Government agents confiscate part of my earnings to supply public assistance that includes food, education, housing, phones, medical care and etc. Many of the people who receive these benefits also take illegal drugs or spend that money on other addictions. If i have to pass a drug test to supply people who do drugs, shouldn’t they have to pass drug tests to GET these benefits?”
Personally, i think the foregoing is a great idea. Terminate from public assistance all those who fail to pass drug tests, and strongly discourage “legal” alcohol and tobacco addictions, too, as these are known contributors to major health problems. So, while i despise D’OweBama, apparently – like a blind squirrel who can find a nut every once in awhile – he can make a smart decision every now and then…he simply didn’t go far enough, imo.
Let Reagan’s warning – “i’m from the government, and i’m here to help you” – strike fear into the hearts of all the liberty-loving…if not terror. Gov’t “help” always comes with strings attached, strings that become chains. You want to live free? You want to be free to destroy your health and sanity? As long as you don’t hurt anyone else, that’s your choice for your life – but do it on YOUR OWN dime. Liberty is not free. Liberty is not license, nor is it a gate to licentiousness, for indulgences become habits, habits become addictions, and addictions are slavery – the antithesis of liberty, right?