Elk Grove Considers Banning Smoking In All Apartment Complexes

March 22, 2012 11:30 PM

Reporting Tony Lopez

ELK GROVE (CBS13) – You’ve heard the saying smoke ‘em if you got ‘em. But if you got ‘em and you live in an apartment complex in Elk Grove, the luxury of lighting up may soon go up in smoke.

“i think it’s a pretty good idea,” one apartment resident said.

He’s talking about the possibility of banning smoking in all apartment complexes in the city.

A Sacramento-based trade association that works with landlords is against the idea, however.

“We don’t think it’s necessary,” said Cory Koehler with the Rental Housing Association. We support an owner’s right to choose the policy that’s in the best interest of their particular property. But what we don’t support is a new law by local government forcing the owner to do that.”

That’s because hundreds of apartment complexes in Elk Grove are already smoke-free. Property owners – many argue – have made the move without government intervention.

But a father and apartment resident wants the ban to go into effect:

“I think it’s harmful to the human body and especially to younger kids who live here,” he said.

Others say no way and are left shaking their heads.

“I don’t think it’s right,” one resident said. “That’s kind of violating people’s rights.”

The right to light up vs. the power of a possible ordinance – this smokin’ hot debate over a cigarette showdown has only just begun.

The City Council will take up the issue at its meeting next week.

Elk Grove Considers Banning Smoking In All Apartment Complexes

burt

If tobacco is so terrible, outlaw it. Of course, THAT will never happen governments want the tax money!

Bubba

This argument is getting like the gun haters’ argument. Legal to possess firearms but you better not use them. At least in NYC, Chicago, even Washington, DC where the Supremes said the city must allow ownership. Oops, you want to use something you legally bought? We cannot have that.

http://www.wnytruthers.com/archives/14694 Nanny State On Steroids: City Plans to Outlaw Smoking in Apartments – WNYTruthers.org

[...] told the television station. “I think it’s harmful to the human body and especially to younger kids who live here,” said [...]
JerryinTampa

I am a former smoker and don’t even like to be around those that continue to smoke BUT dictating what one does in their apartment (Their Castle) is so un American. That is where our current Government is trying to take us all but that will change in November!

jack nichols

well said

http://homelyplanet.wordpress.com tharp42

I would like to see some apartment complexes ban cars. Parking lots are an eyesore, plus all that exhaust is detrimental to my health.
Shannon

I am a former smoker so I don’t believe that it is good for a person to smoke but NO ONE has the right to tell someone in this country that they can’t smoke in their apartment, car, or many other places for that matter. It is just another attempt by those IGNORANT liberals to destroy and stomp all over the Constitution and our rights. I say it is time to step on the rights of all those liberals and take away their right to speak, think, vote, or BREATH for that matter since they are so concerned with controlling everyone else maybe they should learn what it feels like to have their rights stolen away and stomped all over for a change!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
electricman

This is awesome… no one wants to move into a place that is contaminated with nicotine,tar
Whitey

Here we go again… tell me, why does this have to be a political issue? Is that the best you smokers can do? Has it occurred to you that your stentch gets into the carpet and walls… never to be totally removed for the next renter? You’re all in denial.

Cigarette smoke stinks, is invasive and I challenge any of you nicotine addicts to provide one stitch of data that suggests it’s not harmful.
jvv

I think it is a great idea! Of course I live in a apartment. I do not think government intervention would be necessary if smokers just stay in their apartments and close their doors & windows, and smokers stop throwing their cig butts on the ground, afterall it is trash, yet they act like it’s not. The lady below me smokes in patio and all her smokes come up to me, so when she smokes, I sweep. (Of course, my balcony is 2×4′s, and the dirt goes through). I get the 2nd hand smoke, I have to go in and shut my doors & windows;she gets dust, and she has to go in and shut her door & windows. There we are even. Dare she say something. As a matter of fact, when I renting there, they showed me an apartment they called clean and it reaked of smoke, and visually looked clean. I told the mangers, they are better of renting to smokers at that one, I took the other one that didn’t smell like smoke.
MY RIGHT TO SMOKE OUTWEIGHS YOUR RIGHT TO BREATH

don’t worry, if they say that I can’t smoke cigarettes in my elk grove apartment while others can smoke marijuana (legally or not), then I would sue all the way up to the United States Supreme Court. if i can’t smoke my cigarettes, then no one can smoke their marijuana. this ordiance is totally hypocritical and it violation of my civil rights. if i want to smoke a cigarette in a park, in a hospital, in a bar, or anywhere else, then i have the right to do so. it’s my right, and if you don’t like it then you have the right to move away and go somewhere else.
jack nichols

This is the apartment owners decision not the government
me

I used to live next door to a smoker and she was always coming outside to smoke but she was effin hot so I didn’t care !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Whitey

It’s actually not your right, “MY RIGHT”, because we changed the laws. You can, however, throw yourself on the floor and scream that life is unfair.

I do hope you and your big balls think you have all these rights… it’ll take you all the way to the Supreme Jail.
http://eu.theigazette.com/?p=3512 European Gazette – US City Plans to Outlaw Smoking in Apartments

[...] Elk Grove city council will take up the ban this week, according to CBS Sacramento. The ordinance would outlaw smoking in all apartments in the [...]
http://hoosiervapers.com/2012/04/tobacco-harm-reduction-update-4192012/ Tobacco Harm Reduction Update – 4/19/2012 – Hoosier Vapers

[...] Elk Grove considers banning smoking in all apartment complexes http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2012/03/22/elk-grove-considers-banning-smoking-in-all-apartment-compl… NYC activist wants apt. ban on smoking [...]