HUD seeking public housing smoking ban

New federal rules could ban smoking in public housing, and some aren't happy about it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/13/n...-surprise-to-some-public-housing-tenants.html

I'm not not looking for those on public assistance to be in sackcloth and ashes, but some self-awareness would be nice.

“That’s your own home; that’s your own kingdom,” said James Sharpe, 62, perched atop one of the green benches outside Melrose Houses in the Bronx where he sometimes smokes. “You should be able to smoke in your own kingdom.”

 

Skynet.

 

Just make the damn things illegal already. Stop pussyfooting around it.

 

You're talking about a lot of lost tax revenue.

 

I know. I just wish they'd admit they don't actually give a shit about people's health. Not with all that money involved.

 

If you look at from the point of view that the housing is the property of the government and the tenants are only their temporary, you don't want smoke f-ing up the carpet for the next tenants, then I agree with this.

If the second hand smoke from one unit is harming neighbors, then I agree with this.

If it's from the point of view that smoking is bad for you and we are telling you what to do, I'm not so cool with this.

 

There's also the point of view that if the tenants cannot afford to pay a full rent, they shouldn't be able to afford to pay for cigarettes.

 

Can't wait to see the reaction when they evict some poor family because the smoker(s) in the house refuse to comply. Oh and won't that be priceless if those evicted don't go peacefully? Why, I can just imagine all the social media outrage!

 

This. I waste a lot more money than I should on vices, but if I was on the government's dime, I would probably understand them frowning on me wasting my money on such things. I have sympathy for those living in poverty, but this doesn't bother me one bit.

 

Which would be easily made up and then some if you legalize pot and sports gambling.

 

Privately owned apartment complexes can ban smoking. Hotels do

 

Phones, too?