Mayor's new bill does NOT ban smoking inside apartments
Yesterday Mayor Bloomberg proposed a law that would require city landlords, co-ops and condos to write down their smoking policy and give it to prospective buyers and renters so they know what to expect.
The bill does not ban smoking inside individual apartments; that's still up to each building.
But smokers shouldn't necessarily breathe easier.
In a hint earlier this week that more such bans will be forthcoming, the influential Real Estate Board of New York issued guidelines to its members that explain how to go about implementing building-wide smoking bans.
It's legal if implemented properly, but is it fair?
Some people (presumably, the 14% of New Yorkers who still smoke) believe that puffing away at home is no different from frying fish or vacuuming in the nude.
Problem is, smoke is notoriously difficult to contain inside an apartment, and it's not just gross: It's actually harmful to the health of neighbors.
On top of that, nothing--not even fried cod or a teenager with a drum set--cuts off property values at the knees like a smoke-filled hallway.
For a rundown on this week's secondhand smoke news, check out this handy wrap-up on CurbedNY. We've rounded up our previous secondhand smoke coverage below.
Related:
13 NYC apartment buildings that have totally banned smoking
Key ingredients of condo smoking ban: Family-sized apartments and resale value
Does it pay to live in a non-smoking building?
Dealing with a chainsmoking neighbor, when an $1,100 air purifier isn't enough
Smoking bans advance in co-ops and condos
Tipping point for smoke bans in co-ops, condos?
Renters score secondhand smoke victory
