Manhattan, NY – At least half a dozen Manhattan co-ops are considering a highly controversial measure that would make it illegal for individuals to smoke in their own apartments.
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The co-op boards are expected to raise the issue of smoke-free buildings before their shareholders at meetings this spring, reports the Wall Street Journal. More co-ops are considering putting the matter to vote.
Such a proposal is in line with the city’s anti-smoking campaign, which has become increasingly aggressive over the years. It banned smoking in restaurants, then extended the ban to parks, pedestrian plazas and public beaches.
“At every single board meeting we get complaints about smoke and people asking us when will the board do something,” Steven Michaelson, president of an Upper East Side condo that will soon hold a vote on the smoking ban, told the Journal.
Despite the potential health benefits, some property owners aren’t enthusiastic about the no-smoking proposal. Some fear it could decrease their property value. Others, non-smokers included, say such a rule would breach their constitutional right to privacy.
they should ban dogs too. they bark too much
For virtually all apartment buildings, its virtually impossible to prevent smoke from one apartment from contaminating the air in other apartments in the same building. In contrast to cooking odors, which are annoying, second hand smoke can be deadly and smoking should be prohibited in all condos, coops and rental apartment buildings.
I absolutely abhor cigarettes, yet I shudder to think of banning someone from smoking in the privacy of his own condo. A man’s home is his castle. When the government or the rule makers start invading our private domains, who knows where they’ll stop?