EDGARD, La. (AP) - The St. John the Baptist Parish Housing
Authority may become the first in the metro New Orleans area to ban
smoking inside the agency's public housing properties.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recommends
such a policy. Spokeswoman Patricia Campbell said agencies in
Logansport, Morgan City and Sabine Parish already have done so.
Officials say it would cut down on secondhand smoke, fire
hazards, and maintenance.
"It's better overall for everybody's health, and the
cleanliness of the place," said Allen Smith, chairman of the St.
John Housing Authority.
The board began discussing the proposal in April.
More than 830 people live in the agency's four housing complexes
in Edgard, Garyville, LaPlace and Reserve, as well as Section 8
housing around the parish.
The federal recommendation, made in July 2009, describes smoking
as "the No. 1 cause of preventable disease in the United States"
and says forbidding it indoors would increase public health
protection for residents.
Tenants probably would have to agree to the ban to renew their
leases.
"It's going to be kind of hard to detect it, but if you don't
smoke, then it's a little bit more obvious," said Gloria Stewart,
assistant director of public housing in Sabine Parish, which
started restricting smoking inside its units in January.
Since then, maintenance workers have been watching for signs of
possible infractions, such as the smell of smoke or an ashtray full
of butts.
Smith said she has written to about 10 tenants accused of
violating the policy. After a first warning, Stewart said, breaking
the rule would end the lease.
Housing officials in St. John plan to meet with tenants in June
about the proposal and could decide whether to adopt the regulation
in July, said Lawand Johnson, the agency's executive director.
More than three years have passed since the enactment of the
Louisiana Smoke-Free Air Act, which prohibited smoking in
restaurants and other public places. Customers and owners have
largely accepted the ban. Last week, two bills to expand the
restrictions to include most bars and casinos were headed to the
state Senate floor for more debate.

Permalink | Comments