By David Cruz
Correspondent
The idea of smoke-free public housing projects has been kicking around since 2009 when HUD recommended some local housing authorities try a voluntary ban. For the most part, it’s gone pretty well here at the Hudson Gardens in Jersey City, where Sarah Cruz is a resident.
“You’re not supposed to smoke in the buildings or the apartments,” she said. “Where do you think fire comes from? People leave their cigarettes there, don’t know they have it there, so…”
Cruz could be the spokesperson for HUD’s smoking ban effort, which will affect 62,000 residents in New Jersey. HUD sees the generally positive compliance as a sign that an all out ban will work. In announcing the ban this week, HUD said smoking causes 100,000 fires per year in public housing, with 500 deaths a year. The agency says the ban will save over $150 million a year, more than $90 million in secondhand smoke-related health care costs. Local housing authorities will have 18 months to work out an implementation ban which will cover all units, common areas, offices and 25 feet around the buildings.
“Fortunately we have 18 months and we plan on using as much of that as possible,” said Newark Housing Authority Executive Director Keith Kinard. “The magic here is going to be in the implementation. The main plan is communication. We’ve got to get out in front of this and really make sure that the message is clear in terms of why this was put in place and what the implementation will look like.”
HUD Field Office Director Maria-Maio Messano says the agency has a responsibility to protect vulnerable residents like children and the elderly.
“I think this is a national issue,” she said. “We see lots of laws going on all over with not smoking on beaches, not smoking in parks, not smoking on train platforms, so this is not unique to public housing, except that we do have a focus on health and safety.”
Hudson Gardens resident Sam Watkins, smoking a cigar outside of the complex, is a supporter. “I believe it’s good. It helps,” he said. “You shouldn’t be smoking in an apartment with kids anyway. I mean, it’s outside, the air outside, I believe it’s OK.”
Maintenance worker Henry Bey says he has had to clean up many an apartment at the complex. “As soon as you open the door, you can tell,” he said, although, he added, he is not a supporter of a ban. “Well, in one way yes, in one way no because I still smoke so, I’m trying to stop [but I don’t want anyone to tell you where I can smoke].”
But that day is coming. And while enforcement will be left to individual housing authorities, the message is clear: smoke ’em if you got ’em because pretty soon you’re going to have to take it outside and up the street.