rockin'robin
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ST. PETERSBURG --
Should smoking be banned in public housing? There's a movement in that direction.
Smoking already isn't allowed in many government-subsidized housing buildings, including the majority in Pinellas County, and all Floridians living in standardized housing may soon be breathing easier.
Citing data showing that four out of five non-smokers would prefer a smoke-free building policy, HUD Secretary Julian Castro has introduced a smoking ban in HUD-affiliated public housing authorities nationwide.
The Bureau of Tobacco Free Florida (BTFF), the state's tobacco prevention and cessation program, has been working to educate public and private housing managers about the benefits of smoke-free policies.
"Smoke-free public housing is another step in the right direction to improve the health of children, adults and families who are disproportionately affected by tobacco," said State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong. "We also know that implementing smoke-free policies in multi-unit housing produces benefits for the properties, including reduced maintenance and turnover costs and fewer resident disputes related to smoking neighbors."
Pinellas County has four public housing authorities and is ahead of the curve, with both the Clearwater and St. Petersburg authorities already smoke-free.
A third, the Pinellas County Housing Authority, with the county's largest number of units, has made more than 300 units smoke-free to date and is the process of moving toward smoke-free communities for all its developments.
http://www.baynews9.com/content/new...ing_may_be_on_th.html?cid=facebook_Bay_News_9
Should smoking be banned in public housing? There's a movement in that direction.
Smoking already isn't allowed in many government-subsidized housing buildings, including the majority in Pinellas County, and all Floridians living in standardized housing may soon be breathing easier.
Citing data showing that four out of five non-smokers would prefer a smoke-free building policy, HUD Secretary Julian Castro has introduced a smoking ban in HUD-affiliated public housing authorities nationwide.
The Bureau of Tobacco Free Florida (BTFF), the state's tobacco prevention and cessation program, has been working to educate public and private housing managers about the benefits of smoke-free policies.
"Smoke-free public housing is another step in the right direction to improve the health of children, adults and families who are disproportionately affected by tobacco," said State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong. "We also know that implementing smoke-free policies in multi-unit housing produces benefits for the properties, including reduced maintenance and turnover costs and fewer resident disputes related to smoking neighbors."
Pinellas County has four public housing authorities and is ahead of the curve, with both the Clearwater and St. Petersburg authorities already smoke-free.
A third, the Pinellas County Housing Authority, with the county's largest number of units, has made more than 300 units smoke-free to date and is the process of moving toward smoke-free communities for all its developments.
http://www.baynews9.com/content/new...ing_may_be_on_th.html?cid=facebook_Bay_News_9