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

 

[rustybikes]

I wonder... How do these geniuses think they'd enforce this WRT PVs? I get the idea here, but lumping ecigs in with the others is a clear sign of their ignorance of what ecigs really are..

Idiots.

 

[gman1000]

Very disturbing that their definition of smoking includes the term electronic cigarette. A good way for other entities to make a claim that includes them as such. I wonder what would happen if you bought one that is specifically marked, marketed, & packaged as a "Personal Vaporizer" by their terminology that would fall under the "similar device".

Just as disturbing is the fact that this regulation is very broad & could be interpreted by an official in any way as a justification for invasion of privacy. Then again, I have no idea how this came about. Maybe a way to nullify the Fourth amendment since they could say that the tenant has no rights while living in a state managed complex.

 

[pianoguy]

Good luck enforcing that. Nannies.

 

[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.

 

[washvap]

Good luck enforcing that. Nannies.

+1

This is unfortunate and would like to thank Placebo for bringing this topic up. This is just an example of how the local govt. deals with low income communities within the city of Seattle. Even the monorail had a profound effect with low income communities of color. But, that's off topic.

I'm definitely going to give my effort in contacting the people that have been listed above. Hopefully, other Seattleites see this as well.

 

[Iffy]

"... any lit cigar, cigarette, pipe, electronic cigarette, or other tobacco product or similar product in any manner or in any form."

There's the loophole in red. Plus, my PV doesn't even have an exterior light, let alone any burning substance.

 

[Placebo Effect]

+1

This is unfortunate and would like to thank Placebo for bringing this topic up. This is just an example of how the local govt. deals with low income communities within the city of Seattle. Even the monorail had a profound effect with low income communities of color. But, that's off topic.

I'm definitely going to give my effort in contacting the people that have been listed above. Hopefully, other Seattleites see this as well.

Thank you. Please also contact Kim at the Vaporium in Tacoma at TheVaporium@yahoo.com. She's going to get a petition together and probably organize people to speak / send e-mails.

"... any lit cigar, cigarette, pipe, electronic cigarette, or other tobacco product or similar product in any manner or in any form."

There's the loophole in red. Plus, my PV doesn't even have an exterior light, let alone any burning substance.

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.

Please send an e-mail. It'd be great if these people came into their office Monday morning to 25 e-mails about this issue.

 

[washvap]

I'll definitely contact Kim.

 

[mooreted]

I can't figure out how you go to Harvard Law School, pass the bar, become a politician and still be a complete idiot.

 

[washvap]

Me neither but it happens LOL

 

[stretchpants]

I don't know even what to say.Do these people sit around thinking of ways to deny the citizens of this country their personal freedoms? Who are these people?Why are they in a position to deploy their will on others?Where is Thomas Jefferson when you need him? Unbelievable.I guarantee you every person on that board hasn't ever seen an e-cig.We've become a nation of busy bodies and political correctness that goes on beyond the pale.If we as a people don't start voting these do gooders out of office we will get what we deserve which is what we have now.The government is legislating personal freedoms right out the door.It has to stop and "We The People" are the only ones who can stop the insane from doing it.

 

[Placebo Effect]

I don't know even what to say.Do these people sit around thinking of ways to deny the citizens of this country their personal freedoms? Who are these people?Why are they in a position to deploy their will on others?Where is Thomas Jefferson when you need him? Unbelievable.I guarantee you every person on that board hasn't ever seen an e-cig.We've become a nation of busy bodies and political correctness that goes on beyond the pale.If we as a people don't start voting these do gooders out of office we will get what we deserve which is what we have now.The government is legislating personal freedoms right out the door.It has to stop and "We The People" are the only ones who can stop the insane from doing it.

Please send the Commissioners a simple e-mail. Be nice and explain that e-cigarettes do not create smoke, do not smell, and do not emit carcinogens, and then ask how they plan to enforce this rule against e-cigarette users.

 

[stretchpants]

Don't let the face fool you or demeanor fool you. I know the rules of proper decorum.I myself sit on A city board. I didn't like the way they were doing it.Apparently "We The People" didn't either.

Please send the Commissioners a simple e-mail. Be nice and explain that e-cigarettes do not create smoke, do not smell, and do not emit carcinogens, and then ask how they plan to enforce this rule against e-cigarette users.

 

[stretchpants]

Low income people really do not have a lot to look forward to.They usually don't do nights on the town or go to the movies every Sat. night.Most don't have the luxury of Cable.Let them have their cigarettes. I'm not even talking e-cigs. I'm talking Marlboro.
If it's not illegal to smoke it shouldn't be illegal to smoke in ones own space even if it is owned by the government aka (us).

 

[stretchpants]

Rant over...moving on...Please everyone drop them an e-mail. It's important to enlighten their ignorance so it doesn't spread.

 

[Tom950]

Wow! I was reading something today and came across this notation online then noticed this thread later on. Strange.

"In 2009, the Department of Housing and Urban Development formally suggested that public housing agencies adopt smoke-free policies for the residential rentals they do business with.

It's not uncommon for people who smoke to cry foul, pointing out that smoking is a lawful activity, and jumping to the illogical conclusion that it's therefore illegal for landlords to prohibit that activity. If this argument were valid, it would also be illegal for landlords to prohibit tenants from keeping pets, another activity that by itself, on one's own property, is perfectly legal.

Your tenants' objections and reasoning is not uncommon, however. The widespread belief that it's illegal for landlords to adopt property-wide smoking bans was the motivating force behind a new law in California SB 332 Senate Bill - CHAPTERED (California Civil Code Section 1947.5), set to take effect Jan. 1, 2012."

 

[mooreted]

Ok, sent to everyone on the list.

 

[MitchellBeans]

I don't know even what to say.Do these people sit around thinking of ways to deny the citizens of this country their personal freedoms? Who are these people?Why are they in a position to deploy their will on others?Where is Thomas Jefferson when you need him? Unbelievable.I guarantee you every person on that board hasn't ever seen an e-cig.We've become a nation of busy bodies and political correctness that goes on beyond the pale.If we as a people don't start voting these do gooders out of office we will get what we deserve which is what we have now.The government is legislating personal freedoms right out the door.It has to stop and "We The People" are the only ones who can stop the insane from doing it.

Heh... you don't understand how the government works, particualry far-left cities like Seattle.

See.. they know better than you. They are SMARTER then you.

That is how elitists .. particulary long-standing far-left 'we love everyone' socities run. Everyone is equal... except, you know, the people in charge, who can do whatever they want. And eat whatever they want. Not you, but they can, cause they are BETTER than you.

This is the mindset of most of the government today, and again it seems to rear its nanny ways on the left wing of the spectrum.

The left wing looks as the constitution as an obsticle. If they could they would erradicate it tomorrow. They do NOT care about your rights .. only what they think is right for you.

Its a nanny big government left wing city .... and unless you get at least someone with a sense of reason voting on that law .. kiss another freedom goodbye.

 

[kabonk]

it sucks to be poor, I wonder how the could possible enforce that