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Assemblyman Felix Ortiz, best known to Gothamist as the Assemblyman who wants school kids' weights to be graded, is looking to ban smoking from NYC housing projects. Okay, it's really just a measure to make 50% of housing projects smoke-free, but the goal would be to make housing projects completely smoke-free by 2010. Ortiz's argument is that hotels have smoking and non-smoking rooms, and "housing complexes are not so much different than hotels." Gothamist understands the issues of smoke smells coming from neighboring apartments, and, yes, secondhand smoke is a health issue, but we worry that this would start a trend towards banning, oh, pungent cooking from apartments or slightly loud but not that loud music or the occasional dog barks and arguments. It seems more feasible for smokers to pay a deposit for a filter or deionizer, but how would a smoking ban in a residence even be enforced? The Post interviewed some housing complex tenants, who hate the idea of this bill, saying, "If you don't want people to smoke, then make cigarette sales against the law" (watch what you wish for!) and classic "Stop the drugs out here before you stop the smoking."
Gothamist on the aftermath of the smoking ban: Not too much damage to bar business and more smokers quitting. Ortiz did introduce the bill that holding a cellphone while driving illegal, helping create more demand for headset usage and making Gothamist realize that one person yelling to him/herself on the street might not just be crazy - he/she might be crazy and using a cellphone headset.
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how making graffiti and throwing garbage out the windows illegal first. then he could move onto rape and assault, working his way through noise pollution and then drug dealing. once he's made some headway then he can start legislating against 'legal' activities by consenting adults in their own homes. better hide that ky jelly who knows whats next?
Vandalism and improper disposal are illegal, dude.
Uh, yeah...and I believe rape and assault are, uh, illegal too, dear.
lol, so much for snarky sarcasm.
slinging rock will still be allowed
I think the urine smell should be banned first.
Social engineering is great. I *love* it. We should also ban eating too many calories in one day.
Well, you know what? Y'all opened the door for this to happen when you decided that the bar ban wasn't such a bad thing. Whether the results were good or bad, the principle behind the law is rotten, and now we're vulnerable to all sorts of restrictions from people who can't mind their own business.
I'm with the woman quoted. If smoking's so bad, make it illegal, period. Not only doesn't this approach curb the smoking more than slightly, it sets the precedent that legal behavior can be restricted on private property. And we don't know where that can lead.
Just curious, but since when is a PUBLIC housing project private property?
Because we all know that the primary problem facing our public housing projects is smoking. Have these people been to East New York or the South Bronx? I have personally asked all the residents there what their number 1 concern is. Crazy enough, they all said smoking!
I'm reminded of the words of Bill Hicks:
"It's not a war on drugs, it's a war on your rights. Always remember that."
Those of you who don't know who Bill Hicks is should google the name ... now.
(sigh)
Assemblyman Felix Ortiz should just simply outlaw Smoking and be done with it. It'd be quicker, no? IMO, he should have better things to do with his free time.
I could be wrong (I live in a house) But doesn't Public Housing also have Private Lease agreements?
why don't i care?
don't live in the P.J.'s.
pungent cooking and loud, but not too loud arguments shouldn't be banned-there are not numerous scientific studies showing that second-hand curry causes cancer or other illness such as asthma or respiratory allergies. Second -hand smoke does has been shown to hurt the health of nonsmokers and ionizing filters and such do not stop the bad stuff in second-hand smoke from entering the air in apts in the same building. That's part of why the indoor smoking ban in bars, restaraunts and city offices stands. noone could come up with filters that would protect people who choose not to smoke from the smoke of smokers inthe same building.
So I am all for consenting adults having their freedom, but it has to work both ways. you are free to smoke and choose to gamble with your health or not. I am free to not smoke and not breathe in your second-hand smoke.
My choice does not impact your health adversely, but your choice to smoke could affect my health if you smoke in the same apt building as I do and the crap in your second hand smoke enters my home through the ventilation system.
I understand that most "public" housing is actually privately-owned property that is leased out to the city. I think there was some article recently discussing how rundown a lot of these apartments are, yet the private owners have the nerve to charge the city something like triple regardless of conditions. I say fix the PEELING LEAD PAINT first....uh, someone say "toxic baby munchies"?
maybe one day we can apply the secondhand smoke rationale to drivers licenses.
This guy makes me want to vote Republican.
How about banning chicken bones from the hallways?
next ban: sanctimonious blog-commenters
Here is a histerical flash video on the subject of banning...(don't let the title fool you)
http://www.fat-pie.com/thechildthatsmeltfunny.htm