# So what do you think about the proposed nationwide ban on smoking in public housing? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 12, 2015, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-think-about-the-proposed-nationwide-ban-on-smoking-in-public-housing/737417 "2015-11-12T23:25:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-think-about-the-proposed-nationwide-ban-on-smoking-in-public-housing/737417/21 "2015-11-13T14:42:37Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > It’s absolutely do-gooder fascism. We are done with smoking regulations. In fact, they need to be rolled back. These anti-smoking Nazis are not going to stop until they get tobacco defined as a Schedule I drug. It has nothing to do with public health, it’s all about feeling powerful and having your beliefs endorsed as the right ones. I hope smokers band together and start filing discrimination lawsuits. Use the legislature’s own political correctness against them. > > And I do not and have not ever been a smoker. I am a smoker, and this is ridiculous. It’s absolutely about public health. Smoking has many deleterious health effects. In fact, there’s really nothing on schedule I that is as bad for you. I am agnostic on banning it in public housing. I smoke outside my own house only, so there’s something to be said for keeping public housing from smelling. On the other hand, I’m not likely to be robbed or assaulted outside my house in my very safe subdivision. ---
**Author:** ![MeanJoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanjoe/32/5693_2.png) [@MeanJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanJoe)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-think-about-the-proposed-nationwide-ban-on-smoking-in-public-housing/737417/22 "2015-11-13T15:47:28Z")
As a property owner of a condo that we lease to tenants, we have a clause in the lease that there is to be no smoking inside the condo. The current tenants do not smoke but past tenants used the back patio or front porch and we generally had no issues. The property we own as our home is in a mixed economic neighborhood, $200-500K houses, fair market-value rentals, and lower economic/Section-8 housing are co-mingled here. What I see frequently in the summer from the lower income/Section-8 rental units is that the renters really do not care about the neighborhood, etc. The tenants will sit out on the stoop and smoke/drink all evening and toss their empties and cigarette butts everywhere. The sidewalks, lawns, and any landscaping looks like a trash-dump. The littering annoys me to no-end. I don’t begrudge them for smoking or drinking, but for not caring about the neighborhood and their environment. For me this is the first thing I think about - if they make it actually illegal to smoke inside government subsidized housing the neighborhoods will probably see an even larger up-tick in littering and public nuisance issues. Beyond that issue, I have no problem with a property owner putting clauses in leases against particular behaviors. If the property owner is the government, or government subsidies are off-setting the costs of fair-market value for the rent, then I do not object at all. In the case of privately owned but government subsidized rentals, the property owner can choose to conform and continue to receive government subsidies or they can stop taking the subsidies and start getting tenants under new leases with their preferred terms. The one thing I would add on the topic of smoking and government restrictions. If the government is so damn headstrong set on saving us from ourselves (health risks, 2nd hand smoke, etc.) then make the product illegal. Stop selling it, taking tax dollars, etc. Until then, let people make their own informed decisions. Hammer a tobacco company that falsely advertises or does not disclose the risks but leave the public to their own choices. MeanJoe ---
**Author:** ![Cold\_Dish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@Cold\_Dish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cold_Dish)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-think-about-the-proposed-nationwide-ban-on-smoking-in-public-housing/737417/23 "2015-11-13T16:22:58Z")
Next up, smoking will be banned in vehicles traveling on public highways. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-think-about-the-proposed-nationwide-ban-on-smoking-in-public-housing/737417/24 "2015-11-13T17:26:42Z")
> [@Cold\_Dish](#): > > Next up, smoking will be banned in vehicles traveling on public highways. That works for me. I’m fed up with my vehicle being pelted with flaming ciggie butts. Not to mention the millions ending up in sewers. ---
**Author:** ![MeanJoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanjoe/32/5693_2.png) [@MeanJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanJoe)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-think-about-the-proposed-nationwide-ban-on-smoking-in-public-housing/737417/25 "2015-11-13T17:38:42Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > That works for me. I’m fed up with my vehicle being pelted with flaming ciggie butts. Not to mention the millions ending up in sewers. I’ve been driving for _mumble_31 years_mumble_ now and not ONE TIME can I ever recall a cigarette butt being thrown from a vehicle and striking my car. Yet somehow it happens to you with enough frequency that you’re fed up? 😕 As for ending up in sewers, while I generally agree with you, I’d really prefer to see all the fast food trash, tires, trash bags, broken pieces of furniture, etc., cleaned up on the roadways before I’d worry about a 1.5" long cigarette butt. But again, I generally agree about the liter issue but they just don’t ping high on my radar compared to the rest. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-think-about-the-proposed-nationwide-ban-on-smoking-in-public-housing/737417/26 "2015-11-13T18:09:20Z")
> [@MeanJoe](#): > > I’ve been driving for _mumble_31 years_mumble_ now and not ONE TIME can I ever recall a cigarette butt being thrown from a vehicle and striking my car. Yet somehow it happens to you with enough frequency that you’re fed up? 😕 I’ve had it happen a few times, it happens, people are clueless or careless. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-think-about-the-proposed-nationwide-ban-on-smoking-in-public-housing/737417/27 "2015-11-13T18:41:56Z")
I don’t understand the rationale for singling out public-housing residents. Why should it be less OK to smoke there than in a private home? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-think-about-the-proposed-nationwide-ban-on-smoking-in-public-housing/737417/28 "2015-11-13T18:50:53Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > I don’t understand the rationale for singling out public-housing residents. Why should it be less OK to smoke there than in a private home? Because it’s paid for by the government. So the rationale is that they are the landlords and we already allow landlords to ban smoking in their buildings. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-think-about-the-proposed-nationwide-ban-on-smoking-in-public-housing/737417/29 "2015-11-13T20:08:21Z")
How would this be enforced? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-think-about-the-proposed-nationwide-ban-on-smoking-in-public-housing/737417/30 "2015-11-13T20:24:31Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > How would this be enforced? Probably not super easy but not impossible. You recieve complaints or the superintendent notices and you run an inspection of the unit. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-think-about-the-proposed-nationwide-ban-on-smoking-in-public-housing/737417/31 "2015-11-13T20:42:28Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Because it’s paid for by the government. So the rationale is that they are the landlords and we already allow landlords to ban smoking in their buildings. I guess my question is that if the government thinks it’s a good idea to ban smoking in public housing, why doesn’t it extend that ban to everybody’s home? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-think-about-the-proposed-nationwide-ban-on-smoking-in-public-housing/737417/32 "2015-11-13T20:50:18Z")
The government isn’t everybody’s landlord. It doesn’t have a stake in whether smoke damages private residences. The government also has more control over public health on land it owns. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-think-about-the-proposed-nationwide-ban-on-smoking-in-public-housing/737417/33 "2015-11-13T20:54:45Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > I guess my question is that if the government thinks it’s a good idea to ban smoking in public housing, why doesn’t it extend that ban to everybody’s home? You are asking if they can do one thing that has a legitimate rationale and is politically feasible, why don’t they just do this other thing that would be a legal quagmire and would face serious political opposition. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-think-about-the-proposed-nationwide-ban-on-smoking-in-public-housing/737417/34 "2015-11-13T21:28:42Z")
I don’t think it needs to be codified as law. To implement would only require that it be written into the lease agreement, just like any other landlord has the option to do. Not that I think government has the balls to kick someone out of “last chance” housing for the offense of smoking… ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-think-about-the-proposed-nationwide-ban-on-smoking-in-public-housing/737417/35 "2015-11-13T21:53:46Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > I don’t think it needs to be codified as law. To implement would only require that it be written into the lease agreement, just like any other landlord has the option to do. > > Not that I think government has the balls to kick someone out of “last chance” housing for the offense of smoking… “Alcohol abuse that interferes with other tenants’ health, safety, or right to peacefully enjoy the property” is a valid reason for eviction in many public housing leases and has been for years. ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-think-about-the-proposed-nationwide-ban-on-smoking-in-public-housing/737417/36 "2015-11-13T21:55:41Z")
As a landlord, I get it. I do allow smoking. They have fewer choices, they stay longer, much longer. Relatively speaking But this is going to be crazy for those buildings. The grounds around the buildings will be littered like crazy. And if they provide ash tray, they’ll be vandalized or worse. And they’ll need cleaned out if they stay. And people will smoke out their windows to avoid the odor in the house (ha-ha), then pitch the butts on passers by. I can think of other problems, so I wish them luck. ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-think-about-the-proposed-nationwide-ban-on-smoking-in-public-housing/737417/37 "2015-11-13T23:00:24Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > See my post above. Restricting to just inside one’s own apartment does not keep others inside their own apartments from second hand smoke. I got lungfuls every time I left home and came back, and every time I opened my kitchen cabinets. I am two floors above that apartment. The guy below me had to be getting it through his floors. If I had kids, I’d have been pissed and put up a shitstorm about it. > > It damages the property. The ones who have to maintain the properties should be able to restrict damage causing activity. > > Due to the expense of it here, I don’t consider anyone who smokes as poor. Cry me a river how little money you have that shit’s something like $11.50 a pack. Anyone who can manage a $200 to $400 a month habit is NOT poor. My friend rolls her own cigs. It only costs her $1 a pack. ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-think-about-the-proposed-nationwide-ban-on-smoking-in-public-housing/737417/38 "2015-11-13T23:13:56Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Probably not super easy but not impossible. You recieve complaints or the superintendent notices and you run an inspection of the unit. We have a large public housing complex here. It used to be really run down and was nicknamed the chicken coops. They remodeled the entire complex a few years ago and now they inspect each unit once a month. There is no smoking allowed in the units. I know it’s the rule you have to abide by to live there, but I would really hate having someone walk through my home once a month, doing an inspection. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2015, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-think-about-the-proposed-nationwide-ban-on-smoking-in-public-housing/737417/39 "2015-11-14T02:45:02Z")
I would prefer no smoking in apartments, personally. There’s no way to keep the smoke just in your apartment. > [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > So there’s legit damage done from smoking inside, and that’s why a lot of landlords these days prohibit smoking, it’s not just courteous to the other residents, it’s mitigating tar and whatever other stuff from cigarettes sticks to every surface. Same thing happened at my last apartment. I couldn’t figure out why it stank like a nightclub at 6 am under my bathroom sink. It seriously smelled like 12,000 smokers all hung out there every night. And smoke smell would come up through the electrical outlets. I thought I was going crazy for a couple of months, until I finally realized that the woman who lived underneath me was an old-school chain smoker. After she died (not in the apartment), literally, they had to gut her apartment. The maintenance team threw out everything – carpet, over the patio rail; cabinets, over the patio rail; blinds, brown, and over the patio rail. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2015, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-think-about-the-proposed-nationwide-ban-on-smoking-in-public-housing/737417/40 "2015-11-14T13:45:23Z")
The difference between a private and an apartment building is that it interferes with the quality of life of the other occupants. What I don’t understand is the fuss that is being made over vaping. They claim that vaping will lead to smoking. But why would it if smoking in any public place is getting harder and harder? I predicted more than 20 years ago when the smoking bans were becoming ubiquitous that it would end with tobacco made illegal. I certainly don’t want to see that happen, but there is a stronger argument for that than for marijuana. My only question is how it impacts others. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-think-about-the-proposed-nationwide-ban-on-smoking-in-public-housing/737417.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-think-about-the-proposed-nationwide-ban-on-smoking-in-public-housing/737417.md?page=3)