Seattle Housing Authority Proposes Banning E-Cigarettes in Low Income Public Housing

[Placebo Effect]

This is disgusting.

Policy changes - Seattle Housing Authority

Apparently public comment period closed on September 30th.

Non-Smoking Areas Smoking will not be permitted in individual apartment homes or the common spaces of a SHA community or facility of any type, unless otherwise specified.

Definition of smoking: The term “smoking” means inhaling, exhaling, breathing or carrying any lit cigar, cigarette, pipe, electronic cigarette, or other tobacco product or similar product in any manner or in any form.

* Individual apartment homes are defined as the interior and exterior spaces tied to a particular unit. This includes, but is not limited to, bedrooms, hallways, kitchens, bathroom, patios, balconies and unit entryway areas.

* Designated smoking areas will be indicated on each property's map if applicable.

http://www.seattlehousing.org/news/pdf/Policy-Changes-Non-Smoking-DRAFT.pdf

Their next meeting is November 8th at 7:30 a.m. in the First Floor Conference Room at 120 6th Ave N in Seattle.

Board of Commissioners - Seattle Housing Authority

 

[Eddie.Willers]

Wow - that's some wide ranging definition of 'smoking' there!
So, "carrying" a "tobacco product" (NRT patches?) or "similar product" (candy cigarettes?) is forbidden even if it is not being "used"?

Unenforceable, if you ask me!

 

[Thulium]

If it is electronic, it is not "lit"...or are they banning penlights?

 

[Placebo Effect]

Commissioner Yufus Cabdi -- Yxcabdi@hotmail.com
Commissioner Nora Gibson -- norag@elderhealth.org
Commissioner John Littel -- jlittel@nwcarpenters.org
Commissioner Juan Martinez -- No e-mail available
Commissioner Doug Morrison -- dhmrm@yahoo.com
Commissioner Kollin Min -- kollin.min@gatesfoundation.org
Commissioner Heyward Watson -- heyward@impactcapital.org
Executive Director Tom Tierney -- ttierney@SeattleHousing.org

E-mail addresses for the Board of Commissioners: Yxcabdi@hotmail.com, norag@elderhealth.org, jlittel@nwcarpenters.org, dhmrm@yahoo.com, kollin.min@gatesfoundation.org, heyward@impactcapital.org, ttierney@SeattleHousing.org

Please send civil e-mails requesting that the Board of Commissioners remove smoke-free e-cigarettes from the smoking ban proposal. When contacting politicians, always remember that they may not even be aware that e-cigarettes are included, and calling them ...... (as much as you may think it to be true) is not the way to get results.

Also, please let me know if any of the e-mails come back undeliverable.

 

[samuraijill]

Definition of smoking: The term “smoking” means inhaling, exhaling, breathing or carrying any lit cigar, cigarette, pipe, electronic cigarette, or other tobacco product or similar product in any manner or in any form.

So if you just don't whip out your bic and light up your pv, you're cool, as far as I can tell. As another poster said, unenforceable I think.

 

[Placebo Effect]

So if you just don't whip out your bic and light up your pv, you're cool, as far as I can tell. As another poster said, unenforceable I think.

It's utterly enforceable, but that doesn't mean that the low income residents won't be bullied into the smoking section nonetheless. These are the people who have the least resources (both financially and skill-wise) to engage in a legal battle over a definition.

No surprise that draft policy mentions that the King County Health Department, which originally wanted to ban e-cigarettes altogether before settling on a ban in public places where smoking is not permitted, will be offering their ineffective 'cessation' services to the low income residents.

 

[kristin]

How would they ever know if someone was using an e-cigarette in their individual housing unit?? Very stupid.

From what I can tell, from the way it's written, you can "carry" an e-cig in public spaces, it just cannot be "lit."

 

[Placebo Effect]

I just spoke to Doug Morrison. He's a resident of the low-income public housing in Seattle and he is the tenant rep on the Board of Commissioners. Very nice guy -- actually a smoker who I'm hoping Kim from the Vaporium will help quit.

He said he had previously asked that they take a look at removing e-cigarettes, and he's very happy to get some more information from me.

Yufus Cabdi, another Commissioner, replied to my message on Facebook that he wasn't aware that they are included and wanted some more info. Mr. Morrison mentioned that Cabdi hadn't been involved much in the smoking ban process.

 

[MattZuke]

[h=4]From
Executive Staff - Seattle Housing Authority

Deputy Executive Director of Finance and Administration[/h]

Andrew Lofton
206-615-3500 (Tel)
206-615-3504 (Fax)
alofton@seattlehousing.org​

-------------------------------------

See also their e-mail addresses for official inquiries
[h=4]Executive Director[/h]

Tom Tierney
206-615-3500 (Tel)
206-615-3504 (Fax)
ttierney@seattlehousing.org​

[h=4]Deputy Executive Director of Finance and Administration[/h]

Andrew Lofton
206-615-3500 (Tel)
206-615-3504 (Fax)
alofton@seattlehousing.org​

[h=4]Deputy Executive Director of Development[/h]

Al Levine
206-615-3481 (Tel)
206-615-3539 (Fax)
alevine@seattlehousing.org​

[h=4]Chief Financial Officer[/h]

Shelly Yapp
206-615-3390 (Tel)
206-615-3474 (Fax)
syapp@seattlehousing.org​

[h=4]Housing Operations Director[/h]

Rod Brandon
206-615-3511 (Tel)
206-615-3484 (Fax)
rbrandon@seattlehousing.org​

[h=4]Director of Housing Advocacy and Rental Assistance Programs[/h]

Lisa Wolters
206-239-1523 (Tel)
206-239-1770 (Fax)
lwolters@seattlehousing.org​

[h=4]Director of Development[/h]

Stephanie Van ....
206-615-3525 (Tel)
206-615-3539 (Fax)
svandyke@seattlehousing.org​

[h=4]Director of Housing Finance and Asset Management[/h]

Ann-Marie Lindboe
206-615-3553 (Tel)
206-615-3539 (Fax)
alindboe@seattlehousing.org​

[h=4]Director of Strategic Planning and Communications[/h]

Virginia Felton
206-615-3506 (Tel)
206-615-3504 (Fax)
vfelton@seattlehousing.org​

[h=4]General Counsel[/h]

James Fearn
206-615-3570 (Tel)
206-615-3509 (Fax)
jfearn@seattlehousing.org​

[h=4]Human Resources Director[/h]

Dean Barnes
206-615-3323 (Tel)
206-615-3398 (Fax)
dbarnes@seattlehousing.org​

 

[Uma]

The tenants would never be able to afford a good lawyer to prove they did not light up their eCig. Why have one if you don't light it up...

Shoving people into homeless situations because of portable juice vaporizers is more than appalling. I hope they come to their senses before the kids get out shoved onto the streets because poor nicotine addicted Mom switched from smoking to vaping.

 

[MrsCasey]

Unbelievable! So once again those people who find themselves in situations where they are forced to live in low income areas are steered towards or only given unhealthy alternatives. We already have a problem with low income areas having less large grocery stores. The residents of these areas are forced to travel farther distances to get to a larger grocery store, often without having use of a vehicle, or they are stuck shopping at small grocery or convenience stores who do not offer a wide variety of healthy choices and whose prices are higher.

So now let's keep them on the analog cigarettes because to them there is no benefit to Vaping because they still have to go outside and 25 feet away from windows or entrances to Vape or smoke. The initial cost of a kit can be too much for people who are struggling to make ends meet and this ban gives them even less reason to try.

Way to go Seattle Housing Authority! You should be encouraging tenants to try E-Cigs, not discouraging them!

I have to agree with the statements above though. An E-Cig would not be included in the Ban because it is not "Lit" and does not produce "smoke". I will contact some of the people whose contact info you have provided Placebo and I thank you for bringing this to the attention of the E-Cig Forum!

 

[Placebo Effect]

Executive Director Tom Tierney will be recommending the removal of e-cigarettes

Ellen Callahan
Assistant to Tom Tierney
Seattle Housing Authority
Phone 206-615-3500

RESPONSE FROM TOM TIERNEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY:

Thank you for your feedback concerning electronic cigarettes as shown in the staff proposal for a Non-Smoking Policy for the Seattle Housing Authority. The Agency’s staff have considered your position to exclude electronic cigarettes in the policy and are prepared to incorporate your recommended changes as we make our proposal to the Board of Commissioners.

The intent of the proposed Non-Smoking Policy is to:

* Mitigate the irritation and known health effects of secondhand smoke.
* Allow all staff the opportunity to perform their job duties in an environment that is non-smoking.
* Minimize the maintenance, cleaning, and redecorating costs associated with smoking.
* Decrease the risk of smoking-related fires.

Your message raised many good points regarding the characteristics of electronic cigarettes that do not affect the intent of a Non-Smoking Policy. Electronic cigarettes are battery-powered devices that deliver a vapor consisting of flavor, nicotine, and other chemicals but no tobacco. They do not leave a residual odor, they do not produce smoke that irritates workers or other tenants, they do not produce smoke and are not continuously burning, and they do not heat up to a temperature that could cause a fire.

The problem with electronic cigarettes is:

* They are marketed as a harmless alternative, but are not FDA-regulated.
* The vapor has been found to have varying levels of nicotine and ingredients known to be toxic to humans.
* It can increase nicotine addiction and lead to experimentation with other tobacco products.
* Because of their similar appearance to cigarettes, it may cause confusion for both residents and staff during enforcement.


Although use of electronic cigarettes may lead to challenges during enforcement, the proposed Non-Smoking Policy is not a ban on smokers or on all tobacco products. In fact, many smokers use the e-cigarette as a tobacco cessation tool in an effort to quit tobacco use and improve lifestyles.

Being a fairly novel invention, the electronic cigarette has not been addressed in the Housing Authority’s existing Non-Smoking Policies. The Agency will favor consistency across all Non-Smoking Policies, and staff will recommend that we allow the use of electronic cigarettes in the proposed policy for all housing developments.

Again, thank you for your opinion on the proposed Non-Smoking Policy. Your perspective has helped shape the staff recommendation for a Non-Smoking Policy that meets the paramount motive of improved health and best serves Seattle Housing residents.

Tom Tierney
Executive Director
Seattle Housing Authority
ttierney@seattlehousing.org

 

[kristin]

have considered your position to exclude electronic cigarettes in the policy

To whom is he referring?

 

[Placebo Effect]

To whom is he referring?

This message was sent to people who e-mailed Mr. Tierney over the weekend in response to this thread.

 

[kristin]

Nevermind - just saw your email.

The letters, emails and calls from "individuals who contacted our office about electronic cigarettes" worked. See folks - it DOES work to get involved and SPEAK UP!!

 

[MattZuke]

Nevermind - just saw your email.

The letters, emails and calls from "individuals who contacted our office about electronic cigarettes" worked. See folks - it DOES work to get involved and SPEAK UP!!

Yeah, it's still a little distressing that they think it's a good idea that the disabled and mobility impaired should have to roll outside to have a cigarette.

 

[JustJulie]

Great job.

 

[JustJulie]

Yeah, it's still a little distressing that they think it's a good idea that the disabled and mobility impaired should have to roll outside to have a cigarette.

I couldn't agree more.

 

[rothenbj]

Another success story perhaps. I still have an issue with forcing anyone out of their home to smoke, even public housing. However with the home grown "growing body of evidence", I suppose these people have little support.

 

[MattZuke]

I'm not convinced the Seattle Housing Authority will remove e-cigarettes. We've been dupped by people dropping it, then bringing it back up, and based on my conversations with Tom Tierney, there is a clear effort to not say the matter will be dropped, only it sounds like they're not an issue, but we still have concerns.

[They are marketed as a harmless alternative, but are not FDA-regulated.]
Not the concern of the housing authority.

[The vapor has been found to have varying levels of nicotine and ingredients known to be toxic to humans.]
Patently false safe the variable nicotine levels, this is backed up in the FDA report.

[It can increase nicotine addiction and lead to experimentation with other tobacco products.]
Not the domain of the SHA to address behavior.

[Because of their similar appearance to cigarettes, it may cause confusion for both residents and staff during enforcement.]
Given the precept is staff find cigarette smoking too stinky to tolerate, and lingers for years after the resident vacates, only staff without noses could be confused, but easily resolved by using their eyes.


Still addressing this is important.