In interest of public health, Detroit may ban smoking in public housing

[The Straight Story]

In interest of public health, Detroit may ban smoking in public housing

The world for Michigan's smokers may be shrinking again. Already illegal to light up in public buildings, bars, restaurants and -- by July 1 -- on University of Michigan campuses, smoking bans are moving inside some public housing, too.

On Dec. 16, an administrator overseeing the Detroit Housing Commission will decide whether to ban smoking in its more than 4,000 public housing units -- from multiple-dwelling high-rises to single-family homes.

Authorities elsewhere have found that it's cheaper to clean and turn over units belonging to nonsmokers. But health concerns over secondhand smoke drove the decision, said Herticene Hardaway, general counsel for the commission.

"Especially if you live in a high-rise, if you have to live with people on top of you and beside you, and you have a neighbor who is going to smoke, you're unfortunately going to catch some of that smoke," she said.


http://www.freep.com/article/20101208/NEWS06/12080377/1318/In-interest-of-public-health-Detroit-may-ban-smoking-in-public-housing