Public housing for the elderly in Bradford County to become smoke-free

BY JAMES LOEWENSTEIN (STAFF WRITER)
Published: March 11, 2010

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Review Photo/JAMES LOEWENSTEIN James McRath, executive director of the Bradford County Housing Authority, says making its public housing smoke-free will help avoid fires, like the one at McCallum Manor last month.

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Review Photo/JAMES LOEWENSTEIN Keystone Manor resident Mike McMahon says smokers who move out of senior housing due to a planned smoking ban will face high rents.

SAYRE - In a controversial move, the Bradford County Housing Authority plans to make its apartment buildings for the elderly and disabled in Bradford County smoke-free, effective July 1, 2010.

The new policy, which would affect the occupants of 400 apartments in those buildings, was discussed at a public hearing Wednesday on new policies and capital improvement projects that are planned at the housing authority during the coming year.

James McRath, executive director of the Bradford County Housing Authority, told the 24 people who attended the hearing that the new policy is needed because second-hand smoke is a carcinogen and because people smoking in their apartments is a safety problem.

Last month, a fire broke out at one of the housing authority's buildings, McCallum Manor in Canton, when a tenant fell asleep in a recliner chair with a lit cigarette, McRath said. "I was horrified by the damage" that the fire caused, McRath said.

But he said the smoke-free policy was planned before the fire took place, and has been reviewed by the housing authority's Tenant Advisory Committee, and has been presented at tenant meetings in all the buildings owned by the authority.

Currently residents of the housing authority's buildings can smoke in their apartments but cannot smoke in common areas of the buildings.

Under the planned smoke-free policy, tenants will not be allowed to smoke at all inside the buildings and will have to smoke outside the buildings, McRath said.

McRath said that the smoke-free policy will go into effect on July 1, subject to the approval of the board of directors of the Bradford County Housing Authority. He said after the meeting that he expects the board of directors to approve the smoke-free policy.

McRath said at the public hearing that he believes most of the tenants in the Keystone Manor, where Wednesday's public hearing took place, want the current policy changed.

"In the three years that I've been director, a lot of people have come up to me and in very demanding tones said, 'What am I going to do about this policy?'" that allows smoking in apartments, McRath said.

McRath also said that the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which is the main source of outside funding to operate the authority's buildings, wants to see the smoke-free policy in effect.

"HUD is really pushing housing authorities to incorporate this (smoke-free) policy," he said.

Several people at the public hearing expressed opposition to the smoke-free policy, although others said they did not have a problem with it.

"It seems like a dictatorship," said Larry LaDue, a resident of Keystone Manor. "We've got to cut it (quit smoking) or we have to leave."

And Keystone Manor resident Mike McMahon said that residents who want to move out due to the smoke-free policy are going to face high rents, due to the gas workers in the area, who have driven up rents.

McRath said the authority will provide information on local smoking cessation programs to tenants.

James Loewenstein can be reached at (570) 265-1633; or e-mail: jloewenstein@thedailyreview.com.

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12 posted comments

Long overdue. For the residents who smoke, use this as an incentive to quit. It's not easy, as nicotine is the most addicitve drug known to man - worse than heroin, cocaine, or any other. The delivery system is the unhealthy part with the smoke containing all the unhealthy tars and such that poison the body. Now that the FDA finally has control over tobacco they should start to reduce the amount of nicotine allowed per cigarette, and continue to reduce it yearly. For too long the tobacco companies have been able to offset decreasing numbers of smokers by more effectively addicting those who do smoke. That has to end. What should really happen is that tobacco use or possession should be illegal, but tobacco is a powerful lobby willing to spend billions to insure common sense stays out of the picture.
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drug counselor,  03/12/10 9:10
Its about time!
As a health care worker that goes into these places,
I am constantly exposed to second hand smoke.
Thsnk goodness for clean air!
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doggy123,  03/11/10 10:13
Mrs Vanderpoel,
It isn't their own home. Its a subsidized rental unit and there are rules, just as my landlord can tell me I can't smoke, have a dog, or throw loud parties in my apartment. Smoking is a habit, not a right. It's annoying at the least and as several local incidents have proven, it also puts the other tenants at unnecessary risk. Not to mention its a drain on the system that is already paying for their housing and healthcare. They still have the FREEDOM to walk outside if they wish to smoke, while still allowing the other tenants the RIGHT to live without the fear of a careless smoker burning down their building or blowing toxins into their air. This is common sense.
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Calvin,  03/11/10 9:16
Lets carry this a little farther as long as we want to dictate to people what they can and cannot do in there homes. Lets ban any alcholic beverages in the apartments and also any drugs that are bought over the counter and not in a prescription form. Who said we lived in a free society? Guess the times are changing huh!
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donna vanderpoel,  03/11/10 5:15
To Happy Cathy, Subsidized Housing isn't their own home and they should have to do what the rules are. That rule should have been included when they took their apartments. My mother lives in one of those apartments and I would hate to hear on our scanner that they had to be evacuated because of a fire from someone carelessly smoking. Tell me, how would you feel if it happened to you?
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another concerned citizen,  03/11/10 5:14
Smoking isnt a right. If they cant afford to support themselves, they shouldnt be smoking anyway. This should have been enacted years ago.
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Paul,  03/11/10 1:31
That law should have took effect years ago. There are alot of Seniors and Disabled peopleliving in those buildings that have a hard time getting around as it is. If they don't want to go outside to smoke, they can rent some where else.
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concerned citizen,  03/11/10 12:31
If someone is in housing subsidized by my tax dollars I don't want them smoking. If they can afford cigarettes, they can afford to get out of public housing. A similar situation exists with people on public assistance, if they are smokers. A portion of my tax money goes to support their habit. I don't like it. If you can afford your own house, heat, car, gas, and food, I don't care if you want to spend extra dollars on tobacco. But you have no right to spend my money on it, which is exactly what you're doing if you're on any form of assistance, to include Medicaid, food stamps, or subsidized housing.
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stinking on my dime,  03/11/10 10:40
This isn't fair. They should have one floor for smokers or something. Everyone should have the right to smoke in their own home if they want to.
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HappyCathy,  03/11/10 10:27
I HATE smoking. BUT, this is WRONG, DEAD wrong to do to ANYONE. Better check these guys for a hammer and sickle tattooed on their arms - COMMUNISTS!
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Glenn,  03/11/10 7:44
Mr. Loewenstein certainly has a "nose for news". This is an absolutely stunning story. I would have expected these housing units to have been tobacco free ten years ago!! That smoking continues, even now, to be permitted is something right out of the dark ages. What are we trying to do, kill our senior citizens!! My heart goes out to residents forced to dwell within a building where smoking is going on. This should be outlawed immediately. What is the matter with our leaders in this county. They are living in the last century!! If people are crazy enough to want to smoke, let them kill themselves outdoors. A death wish should be a personal thing. Nobody has the right to take along others to their grave!
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Smoking Stinks,  03/11/10 7:43
If you can't afford the rent, how can you afford to smoke? Which is more important you life or a roof over your head?
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ex-smoker,  03/11/10 6:53