Ashtrays in East Lansing Housing Units

Question for Patricia: One of your slides indicated that existiing ashtrays in the apartment buildings were being turned into artwork. Does any local smokefree legislation exist that prohibits smoking tobacco products in pubic common areas of residenes such as the lobby, laundry room and hallways? When the NYC Smokefree Air Act went into effect smoking became prohibited in all common areas of apartment buildings (not the actual apartments) such as the lobby, hallways and laundry rooms, etc. I had a struggle with my apartment manager to remove the ashtrays since it was in violation of the local law - the resistance was due to the concern that residence would put out their lit cigarettes on the rug. The ashtrays were removed shortly after and gosh, no one even thinks of smoking once they walk into a common area.

 

There is not any legislation which requires common areas of housing development to be smoke free.  However, Lansing Houisng Commisison's Policy and I hope others also prohibit smoking in common areas.  The art work comment was not related to ashtrays in common areas.  We removed those.