AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine State Housing Authority is imposing a new smoke-free policy in all future units, making Maine the first state to require protection of tenants from secondhand smoke in new units
The agency, also known as MaineHousing, says all future units built and financed by the state’s Low Income Housing Tax Credit will be required to be 100 percent smoke-free.
MaineHousing says that allowing smoking inside of buildings can cause tenants to suffer illness and poor health, and that the cost of rehabilitating a unit where there’s been smoking is a waste of money because the damage is preventable.
For the past five years, MaineHousing has offered incentives to applicants who chose to create a 100 percent smoke-free building.
MaineHousing units to go smoke-free
Yeah Right!!!!
Commendable agenda, but I wonder how practical it will be to enforce.
I do alot of work for a major low income property company. They have been very successful an enforcing this rule.
Most people that smoke are considerate enough to go outside as not to bother those that dont. But unless they have a designated area WITH proper recepticles that are safe, it will look like crap and as we have seen before, fires starting outside from carelessly disgarded cigarettes.
Too bad Bangor Housing doesn’t believe in that policy.
I assume this only refers to cigarette smoke…
Should refer to all smoking.
You mean like smoking a turkey, or burning a steak, lighting candles?
Left to wisdom, one might say smoke free, but, tobacco, probably has saved more lives, by calming people down, than it has taken,
it is an awfully difficult call, how far do we tell people what to do? I have always called tobacco a poor man’s sedative, I like a good cigar, but, by far macdonald burgers are killing more people in Maine. Places should be washed and re-painted, and ya know, alcohol can come and go, why, cause it does not stain a ceiling? This is truly deeper than one might think, a lot of people are up against it, stressed, I thnk I will take a beating for this writing, but, it is not that simple.
Huh? And what tobacco company do you work for?
Like it or not, there are benefits to using tobacco.
There were benefits to using asbestos too but I’m gonna’ go ahead and stick with a brake pad that’s not going to give me cancer.
Well, true, but only if you own the tobacco company.
So, all the millions of people who smoke in this world get NO benefit at all whatsoever??
What benefit? Shortened lifespan, enough money spent each year to pay for a nice vacation to Europe, higher insurance rates, much poorer physical health, the contempt of your fellow man, stinking like an ashtray, people not wanting to ride in the same elevator, having to go through airport security twice just because you could not survive without a smoke between flights, parents worried about 2nd and 3rd hand smoke exposure to their kids, lower trade-in value on your car, being relegated to a hotel room where other smokers have caked the walls with smoke (if you can even find a hotel that allows smokers), constant inconvenience trying to find a place to smoke, looking far older than you are, having your voice sound like Lucille Ball in her final years (women particularly sound horrible after smoking for years) – just to name a few.
Here’s the deal. In my office of maybe 60 professionals, not one smokes. However, my observation is that those who can afford it the least, smoke the most. Just like lottery tickets. The professionals don’t have the time to waste, can’t stand the inconvenience of smoking, and realize they are greatly affecting their lives and the lives of their friends and family. Personally, I believe if you have the time to smoke, then you have too much time on your hands and really need to do something to resolve your addiction.
So, go ahead and smoke yourself into a coffin. It’s a free country. Do what you want, but please do it away from me.
I have a co-worker that smokes and her husband does too. They spend a MINIMUM of $400 a month on cigarettes (and this is in NC where cigs are cheaper). They are always just days from eviction, and having their power turned off. Just quitting this smoking would put their finances in the black. Their car is owned by her mother-in-law, because they choose to smoke instead of buying their own car. They live in a sketchy part of town in a crappy apartment because they have prioritized smoking. I could go on but you get the point.
I haveta wonder what Air Force One smells like.
I had the honor to be aboard back in 2003 and it is meticulously clean. I never saw an ashtray anywhere. Knowing the skill and pride of the crew, I am sure it remains maintained to the highest standards.
And we all know their budget source. Probably did a good job on Clinton’s cigar stink in the closet off the Oval Office too. But of course that was before our latest smoker in chief…
My understanding is that the President has quit smoking just as many other Americans have. I’m sure the aircraft and the Oval Office are just fine. As long as they keep the darling of the Tea Party, Speaker of the House John Boehner, away with his heavy smoking addiction, the facilities should be just fine.
He’s reportedly quit for four years, but the rumors linger like stale smoke. I was being facetious
anyway.
The aircraft that serve as Air Force One (that is any aircraft that has the President aboard) are owned and operated by the White House, the Executive branch of the government. The Air Force does maintain and fly the aircraft, though. It is a very impressive operation.
Thanks, but I know all that.
I’m an on again/off again need-to-quit-completely smoker and I believe that there are no benefits to smoking. It’s extremely addictive, expensive, unhealthy and dirty. Smoking should NOT be allowed inside any building that is government funded/subsidized. It’s not fair for the children, animals and non-smokers. Plus, the chemicals in cigs can stick around in paint, flooring, ect..
agreed. I quit last year. If a person wants to smoke I say go for it. It’s still mostly a free country. It’s when the smoking is done in a building that I help pay for that I draw the line.
ok name some, because I don’t see how there are any.
According to the American Cancer Society, “Tobacco use is responsible for nearly 1 in 5 deaths in the United
States. Smoking is the most preventable
cause of death in our society.” Almost half a million people die every year from tabacco-related illness. so I think there is a loophole in your reasoning.
And as a former smoker, I can say that even repainting and washing a place does not get rid of the smoke smell. Also, kids should not be forced to be exposed to second hand smoke. If a person needs state aid to afford housing, then I guess asking them to step outside (LIKE MOST LANDLORDS DO) is not that big of a deal.
Assuming for the moment that your premise is correct (and, that’s a huge assumption), your alcohol and Big Mac consumption in your apartment has no effect on me. Your smoking, on the other hand, does. Believe me, in my condo, we had an upstairs neighbor who smoked non-stop. She was on oxygen and used a nasal cannula and yet she still smoked like a ’62 Ford Fairlane with bad rings. The smoke seeped through the cracks and I could sit in my living room and smell the smoke. Opening the windows did nothing as she also did that and the smoke would blow in from outside. She finally died so both of our problems are resolved.
If people want to calm down perhaps they should try something a bit less self-destructive and also discover why they are so wound-up. Treat the problem not the symptoms.
I wonder what the success of this effort will be. It is commendable but if you look at the demographics of smokers I suspect you will find more smokers in that income level, as a percentage, than other groups, thus making the likelihood of 100% compliance doubtful.
I remember when smoking was the norm. Almost all houses and all cars had ashtrays (even hospitals!). I grew up in a home with blue waves of smoke in the air and no one said bar without smokey as a prefix. That was grossly dangerous to everyone’s health, but just smelling it from down the hall or in the breeze at a park is not; only smelly.
In reference to the old lady causing the smell in your unit, that reinforces County’s complaint about the want and need brouhaha above. Obviously some people can’t “simply quit”. It will fade away as time goes on. Fads, even this long lived one, will pass. It’s been 2 to 3 years since the last time I choked on some one’s over applied wretched perfume. :0
and many of these people don’t have a care in the world. They sit outside and smoke as they watch everybody else go to work.
If the places are smoke free, they might not have to be repainted (and trust me, the smell of a dirty ashtray will still be there). When taxpayer money is supporting these people, then laws get to be made regarding their behavior in this housing. Considering how little of their money is going toward the rent, the fact that it is smoke free, should be the least of their complaints.
Boo hoo no body works but you. These people still have rights.
Taxpayer money supported George W. Bush too, their citizenship remains in tact, they are no less a human being, that is not the reason for any smoking rules, get off,”well they are taking tax payer money”, so what, they are still citizens of Maine. And one note, that will not be popular, if many of these people, as you say, went off to work, they probably would be worse off, that staying on the porch.
oh so you know it all lol I used to smoke and have worked all my life and always paid taxes and there are still alot of people who do. I quit because I wanted to not because someone said hey you can’t live here if you smoke. Quitting is not an easy thing to do and being told you have to does not cut it you have to want to do it for yourself and not for somebody or some rule. If you keep you house clean wash the walls and floors this does not build up. Also alot of the people who will be affected by this are probably elderly worked all their lives, paid taxes, still smoke because they have for years and years and are living on social security now and we all know that that they receive more than enough to live on not!!! Looks like we may have more seniors becoming homeless.
Future units?, they should make that ALL units!!
And the ban should include medical marijuana smoke as well.
The ban should include all non-prescription drugs.
And ban white sugar too!
white sugar is not going to stink up and stain the walls,floors, and ceilings of a dwelling. Now if a person is in their own home go for it. A subsidized apt. does not count.
That’s just stupid. Hopefully you are being sarcastic.
Don’t forget trans fats, salt and styrofoam take out containers. They’re all making us fat! :0
>>><<<
Next is light out for all at 8:00 p.m…….
If they don’t like the rules, they don’t have to use taxpayers dollars. Let’em get their own place…
No doubt but I was talking about tax payers too.
yeah, LOL, the only things is, do not give them any ideas.
I’m sorry, I really am but there’s just something about history that ALWAYS seems to repeat its self, especially if it’s bad and especially if a communist government already tried it.
yes, so true
LOL… that ought to keep people busy trying to enforce… Or, maybe the statement is more like “In passing”. All future units… well, that gives most tenants the green light to keep smoking…
Good Luck With That!
It’s fair to assume that the people living in these subsidized units cannot afford their own place. In my mind it is like food stamps – if you can’t afford to pay your own way you shouldn’t be throwing money away on non-necessities like tobacco products. Put that money towards food or housing so that the tax payers aren’t burdened by it. Cigarettes are not a “need” they are a “want”. When you stop asking others to pay your way you are free to do what you want.
By calling it a want and not a need, it’s obvious that you don’t understand physical addictions.
You have missed the point entirely.
Try again.
There is no sense in explaining the difference between wanting and needing. It should be self explanatory to even the non-thinkers, but I ‘want’ a soda and ‘need’ methadone.
Are you saying that these people “need” to smoke because if they don’t they will be violently ill and/or die? Your analogy to methadone is an awful one… those people are at least trying to get treatment. People who are continuing to smoke are not trying to get off cigarettes, they are furthering their addiction.
It was only an illustration of the difference between the two words and not a direct comparison to methadone. The severity of an addiction was not intended, but everyone here, as usual, went ballistic over it. You nor anyone else here will change a dictionary or my mind about your own analogy. I watched my mother unsuccessfully try to quit dozens of times with all the withdrawal symptoms. While she didn’t writhe in pain, her NEED was contradictory to her WANT to quit. I was merely trying ro point that out to you. The ways that people twisted that simple comment and with such vehemence is astounding.
I’m outta here ’till the next time people with reading comprehension problems flare up again, probably tomorrow….
Need: circumstances in which something is necessary, or that require some course of action
Want: have a desire to possess or do (something); wish for : I want an apple
I can see escapee’s argument better than yours. Methadone was a poor choice of word, but getting thru to some of you is hard.
But it’s none of your business if they do or don’t smoke.
Pretty simple. Take responsibility and quit. I did. And millions of others have.
Tell that to all the people on methadone.
I have a close friend who was on Methadone. With the help of the doctors he weened himself off it and drugs and has been clean for years. Methadone is supposed to be a treatment not a substitution, from my understanding of it.
So, work on the problems that got people to turn to drugs in the first place and then work on getting them off methadone. Addictions can be beaten.
I used methadone only as an example of an addictive physical need. I have to assume any physical addiction can eventually be overcome, but that’s a far cry from a ‘want’ that maidenmaine seemed to espouse. I don’t know crap about methadone; always thought of it as similar to ‘the patch’: A crutch to wean one off that addiction. I just haven’t heard of any crimes resulting from a nic-fit.
Then, you clearly have not seen the movie, “Cold Turkey.”
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066927/
Never was one for movies, especially Dick Van Dyke slapstick. I only have a vague memory of a town rioting during withdrawal. I’m now regressing far enough into my second childhood to possibly enjoy it (when the udder half isn’t around)! :)
It was funny at the time.
We are talking NICOTINE, Cigarettes. You think that’s the same as Methadone? Wow…
I was talking about a physical addiction to ANY substance as being a NEED and not a WANT!
If read in context with the top of this thread, no further explanation should be needed (for most). WOW!
And if they don’t want to quit, and no one is forcing them to, they should look into alternate housing that would both fit their addiction needs and save on my checkbook. If people want to smoke it certainly is their choice, but I know from my own smoking years just how hard cigarettes are on walls, ceilings and carpets. If someone needs help in finding affordable housing that is one thing, but for me to have to pay for the repair of damages a smoker does to the housing is totally unacceptable.
Yep, they accidentally started smoking and couldn’t possibly quite like countless others have.
ALL addicts of ANY substance fits your scenario (except those born to it like crack babies), so just what is your point?
And just what the frick does that have to do with the definitions of ‘need or want’? Are you having problems with reading in context, too?
Actually county, the poster who first brought up “need” vs “want” and I agree. What you’ve been stating here isn’t convincing me in the least.
I’ve not heard of rehab or any kind of withdrawal for people who “want”. From what I’ve read he’s not trying to convince you of anything. Only the first poster.
Your argument is very poor. Tjones is right – if someone wanted to quit smoking they could do numerous things to make it happen. If people want a free ride then they should think about the consequences.
It’s never been about smoking with escapee. It’s been about you not using a dictionary and then getting defensive about it!
I chain smoked for 25 years and quit last year. When I smoked and visited a friend or family member that didn’t smoke, I didn’t smoke in their home. When in a non smokers car I didn’t smoke in their car. When on a 9-10 hour flight I did not smoke in the airplane. I understand the addiction reality very well.
You being a considerate smoker is nice and congrats on quitting, but at the time did you consider it a want or a physical need?
I have never condoned or defended smoking here and have no problem with the State’s decision, so I’m nonplussed as to all the attacks about lousy word definitions. The use of “methadone” was an extreme comparison, but not being a man of letters, I just grabbed it to illustrate the difference. I will continue to believe that ‘want’ and ‘need’ are not interchangeable.
>>>><<<<
I am not a smoker, but if they want to smoke, the government should not be telling them they can’t. We live in America.
Exactly. It starts with tobacco and continues with trans-fats, sugary sodas, and eventually mandatory health programs for people where they will have to pay a penalty if they don’t enroll (and I am not talking about the current Affordable Healthcare Act, either, but employer programs). It’s not just about the poor, it’s a trend that affects working people, too, all across the country. If you work for a company or get assistance from the government, then they have the “right” to dictate your personal habits under the guise of keeping you healthy.
Wise idea, but I agree it should apply to all units. Should be a lot safer too with the number of smoking accidents and the danger to all residents from smoking while on oxygen.
The more the state is in your life, the more the state has control of your life.
Correct. And when people don’t like these rules, they will put their grown-up pants on, get a job, and learn to be independent.
“MaineHousing says that allowing smoking inside of buildings can cause
tenants to suffer illness and poor health, and that the cost of
rehabilitating a unit where there’s been smoking is a waste of money
because the damage is preventable.” The mold and mildew in most of the units will cause more tenants to suffer a LOT more illness and poor health than any second hand smoke.
Some people think cause they get cheap or free housing it comes with a maid. I have wonder about the dirt some of them live in as being a health issue bigger than smoke and mold.
The mold, the mildew, the carpets, some of the inside finishing, all probably give off much worse health hazards, than a camel. I remember the world before all these non-smoking laws got in, we
were really much healthier as a society as a whole, one old WWII vet told me, if they had these laws in 1941 to 1945, we probably very well could have lost the war. Smoking is a culture, there is more to it, how the mind works, our do gooders, and modern thinkers are dooming the U.S., although, not many can see this, one cigarette, on thought, can change many things. One does not think well under a deprived situation, we are more complicated as humans.
Interesting point,but pre 1945,tobacco was basicly unadulterated.Now it includes so many chemicals and additives,I wonder how much tobacco is actually in each cigarette?
Well, it is time to change that culture. If you are proposing that cigarettes are a necessary evil to continue the advancement of the American culture, I would have to disagree. Just look at a long-time smoker at age 70 vs. a non-smoker today at age 70. The health differences are night and day.
My father and his 2 brothers were all dead by age 50. Each were heavy smokers at 3-1/2 packs a day per person on the average. My brother and I, non-smokers are 77 and 57, respectively, and we are far, far healthier than our father or our uncles ever were.
Now, I agree, there are other factors to consider such as the improvement of medical care in general, but our father and our uncles all died from heart disease and we show no signs of it whatsoever. For us, it is an easy conclusion to draw.
I cannot possibly see how you can make the statement that we were healthier post WWII than we are now and use cigarettes to justify it. For those who do not smoke and follow a reasonable diet, our lives are far longer and healthier than those of that generation. When I was a kid, someone 60 years old was OLD and on the way out. Today, 80 is the new 60. I am working with a guy who is 77, a consultant, sharp as a tack. He plays tennis and has great energy levels. He takes care of himself and, of course, does not smoke.
You totally have missed my point. I smoke one cigar every day, and I agree, if you want to live longer and healthier, then do not smoke. However, as opposed to your world, obviously, some, do not cope as well mentally to the day to day life, a cig sometimes helps. As far as society now, I agree that some of the guys back them died earlier, but a lot of it was from lack of things taken for granted today, like statins, and good blood pressure medicines, vitamins, and we do not have the
heavy fatty diet as a rule as they did. But, society was healthier in many ways, people accepted things as they came, it was a world most all were trustworty, you could hitch a ride and have no fear. You could walk any street, you could leave your house unlocked, how, society has gotten like it has is a mystery, it has to do with lack of employment, lack of opportunities.
There are many factors contributing the the change of society between then and now, but I doubt cigarettes are responsible for either causing it or lessening that transition. I also would say if you want to find something to help you de-stress yourself, there are many safer alternatives to cigarettes. I think you are trying to come up with an argument to justify cigarettes. There is not one. But, as I have said, if you want to smoke yourself into a coffin, have at it. It’s a free country. Just go someplace away from me to do your slow burn to suicide.
I agree the change in society has many causes including a dumbing-down of society, a cut in educational programs, less emphasis on education and awareness of the world, poorer middle class and a general disbelief that one can succeed in the middle class, which has been devastated over the past 30 years, primarily due to a lack of reasonably well-paying jobs, a demise in our manufacturing capability, and move away from “the trades” as viable career paths. I was not a big fan of the draft, being a product of the Vietnam war era, but I will admit, it did whip some discipline and backbone into the whimps I see coming out of high school these days – no sense of responsibility, no idea what it means to be an adult, to grow up, to mature, and accept the duties of life. Instead, we have a herd of wishy-washy kids no knowing what to do next. Now, certainly, that is not always the case, and I would say is not the norm, but when I was in high-school, I recall we had about 4 kids of a class of 200 that dropped out. One girl got pregnant, and two brothers and a cousin, with a long history of problems, ended up in juvie.
I also would say this general downturn in the economy has contributed to increased drug use which in turn has led to large increase in petty and severe crimes. I am the last person to encourage the use of drugs but if we look historically at the Prohibition era we can draw a parallel in the crime committed during that period with that of today. However, in addition to the bootlegger crime then (drug dealers today), we have the user on the street stealing everything in sight to pay for an expensive addiction.
The bible thumping Republicans would never go along with this idea and every politician who has even ventured a discussion about it, usually experienced his last term in office – but I would propose decriminalizing drugs. If you really want the law of supply and demand to kick in, just have the government supply clean, pure, drugs for free to those addicts who request them. That will drive the South American drug lords back to growing coffee beans like they should be. The distribution networks will dry up, the crime to pay for the drugs will be far reduced, and the billions of dollars spent to try to enforce these drug laws will be freed up for treatment and anti-drug education campaigns. Sure, some will overdose but many might seek treatment. What we are doing now certainly isn’t working.
There always will be some number of people in society who take drugs. I’m not one of them and I am sure the vast, vast majority of Americans are not, either. But, all of us are affected by this drug problem in the USA, and no more so than those in the inner cities. Dry up the profits in drugs and you dry up the dealers, crime, and teenage high-school drop out rates. It really is the law of supply & demand that is espoused by the GOP, except in cases where it runs against their moral ground. It also is important to put in-place in the inner cities, great schools and activities for kids. The wholesale cutting of funds for the arts, sciences, and physical education programs has contributed to kids not looking forward to attending school. If you love playing the trumpet, that alone will drive you to attend you school if it has a great music program. These days, kids are expected to study and succeed in the worst of conditions. It’s appalling and unnecessary and counter-productive.
Right now, we adequately control alcohol and there are good programs for alcoholics. The same could be done for drugs.
Of course, another group against this idea is any private company that is involved in enforcement of the anti-drug laws either by supplying personnel or equipment in this failed war on drugs. They stand to lose millions.
And, if you don’t believe the war has failed, check that pesky law of supply & demand again. If the war were being won, drugs would be both scarce and expensive. Sadly, they are neither.
I will be damned, Gawd took ya a long time to get it, of course we should legalize pot, at least, and in some controlled way, legalize prostitution, we need to get our jobs back, American S0ciety is on the verge of a breakdown. We have too many stupid people in Congress, too many laws, right from the small town’s of Maine. The Jails are full of good people just ahead of the law, they have not actually done anything, grew some pot, oh my Gawd, lock em up!
I have never been brief – sorry.
Trickle-down could have worked had the savings from tax breaks given to the rich & corporations been conditional on upgrade and expansion of business here in the USA. Instead, those funds were placed in the “less risky” and certainly more liquid financial vehicles of the stock market. That left the aging factories to rust-out and be moved offshore where the ROI was far better. Why build a new brick & mortar factory when we can get the product at a reduced rate from overseas?
That did nothing for the middle class. But, benefiting the middle class never was the objective. Like Bain and other asset management companies, the sole goal was to provide a rapid profit to its shareholders. The market seemed a likely place to achieve this goal.
Then, of course, the market tanked and the rest is history.
I think if Congress got into action, now as crazy as it may sound, I think if they immediately added $500.00 a month to Social Security benefits, worked on Obama health care plan, and began some plans to re-kindle manufacturing here, that enough people might be able to retire, open up some opportunities to the younger workers, and slowly we might climb out of this depression, these things workers need, housing, healthcare, and transportation, and enough to eat.
Not a bad idea. What I find troubling is when I try to hire people in the IT field, I have a difficult time finding people at all and then with the proper training. The unemployment rate for college grads is 3.8% while for high-school dropouts, the number is 12.2%. Even high-school grads it hovers around 8.4%.
http://www.deptofnumbers.com/unemployment/demographics/
Education is key today and that goes across the board. In my field of IT, I am forever training and learning new skills. My PMP rating is next.
When Peter Vigue of Cianbro had to start a school to teach people to weld because our schools, I gather, no longer teach “shop” and “the trades,” then there is a real problem here. Skilled machinists are retiring and one factory said they’d hire another 35 people if only they could find them. Why are we not educating kids for these jobs?
So, while the early retirement is a good idea, I think getting some training going would be recommended. Of course, the Tea Party crowd thinks this all should be handled by the private sector. I counter that – look at what the GI Bill did for us. Amazing skills and throughout the 1950’s onward the USA made huge technological leaps, put a man on the moon, explored spaced, unraveled the human genome, and on and on. Why? Because we had talented people. And, they got “talented” by being able to attend a university or post-secondary education college/trade-school.
Right now, we have too many drop-out dragging down society and who will forever be a burden on society. We need to up our game and the best way to do that is to make the long-term commitment to education and training. We don’t need any more sales clerks. We need educated people. The USA has a distinct advantage over other countries. We are not just educated – we are the innovators. iPhone, the PC, and a plethora of other products were designed here in the USA. They may be built elsewhere but they were designed here.
Those other countries? China has plans to do the design in China within 10 years. Then, our ability to keep ahead will be greatly reduced.
Kind of apples and oranges. Neither problem should exist. Smoke damage is preventable. Mold and mildew probably is, too, if maintenance is kept up on the units. Usually mold and mildew are a result of water leaks and it is unlikely the tenant will have much control over that other than timely reporting of the problem to the maintenance staff and their timely repair of the broken item.
Smoking, on the other hand, is instantly controllable and if the tenant does not smoke, that repair cost need not occur, so the statement that it is a “waste of money,” is accurate. If the smoking did not occur in the first place (just like proper building maintenance) those costs would not occur.
What a jerk.
You’re a JERK !!!
Live with the knowledge that, tomcaterwaul is doing something now, that will be decided later was unhealthy, like drinking soda, someone will say boohooohoo, you did it to yourself, die on the street etc…..
I think it is called “Trolling by Alias”, Bob! But, your comment applies perfectly!
people on state aid shouldn’t be allowed to smoke
Or buy liquor.
Pee in a cup if you want a state check.
Oh yeah, who’s the babies daddy?
That is where you are totally wrong, and, the state cannot take away citizenship, some people need some help in this world, but, the State cannot take away any part of citizenship by offering help.
ugh
You have this on “cut-and-paste”, right? This must be the third or fourth time today I’ve read this comment.
ururur
it’s not being persecuted if restrictions are in place to prevent that person from willingly destroying a dwelling that they live in. I was a heavy heavy smoker for decades and I get it, but I didn’t smoke in places where it wasn’t allowed or appreciated.
—
So..riding the system long?
ick
May they watch movies?
Yes, but none of the old ones where everybody smoked. That’s what got us into this in the first place.
LOL, ok what about bedtime? Do the landlords get fined if the movies are too loud after 10:00pm?
Like my parents used to say “We’re the landlord here. You’ve gotta follow our rules or get your own place!”
What about bankers on federal aid?
I have said it many times before and i will say it once again. Considering that cigarettes are the highest taxed item in the state, What is the goverment going to do if you outlaw smoking? Those of you running off at the gums about how the only people that smoke are those that get a hand out from the state are clearly dillusional. Cigarettes arent FREE??? They cost good ole fashioned Cash. Maybe i am crazy but i have yet to see the state give any handouts of free cigarettes. On each very expensive pack comes a very large TAX…so before you start biting the hand that feeds your whiny butts, better take a step back and become a little better informed.
Ironic how a regressive tax works. Look at how the State’s have absconded with all the tobacco settlement money for other programs than smoker’s breathing problems.
Who & how is that going to be enforced?
The most remarkable quote on this page must be: “… tobacco, probably has saved more lives, by calming people down, than it has taken….”
Before you laugh remember that people who believe this vote.
The humble Farmer
My ex sister in law always votes for the snappiest dresser. The scary part is, she has backed the right horse in the last five presidential elections! lol. The thought of the electoral college bothers me a little, until I think about that.
LOL true.
ROMNEY / RYAN 2012 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have you thought of getting a real life, dans?
I don’t understand how it is a big deal to ask people to step outside to have a cigarette. This is how landlords usually handle things (as a former smoker).
I am suprised if your living in Maine housing how do you have the money to smoke both me and my wife work and we couldn’t afford those things . don’t take me wrong I am not against smoking . I think they tax them way too much . what next ?
Cheap cigars a $1 a pack . Just pick up the beer cans laying around.
MSHA was building rental units that cost up to $300K and now they are worried about the cost to repaint and clean a unit do to smoking? The units are most likely cleaned and repainted when they have a tenant change anyways. There will be no big savings from this.
You have obviously never managed an occupied unit that MSHA inspected that had tobacco streaming town walls and burn holes throughout the flooring. The lovely people causing the damage don’t pay for the new paint and carpet MSHA demands, the landlord does.
I have personally renovated dozens of low income rental units after move out, painting and flooring are typical items to be done. Also if it is a rent subsidized unit the owner is required to spend a certain amount of money on renovations. Not justifying or condoning the smoking, but an organization that has gotten so far off track to think a $300K cost for a single unit is reasonable has much more to worry about than tenants smoking in their residence.
Oh okay what about someone that has a medical prescripton from dope. Then someone is going to scream that you are voiliting there medical rights.
First off i do not care what anyone thinks of my comment here.It is so funny drinking alcohol never is an issue at any place in the united states.
The nasty secrete is smoking dives down the overall cost or health care people die sooner . Also saves a lot on SS benefit payouts . At the same time making revenue for the state .
I would have to see the numbers to believe it. Modern medicine can keep a person alive for much longer then in years past. c-paps/bipaps/newer medicines/newer ways to use older medicines. all of these cost a fair amount of money so I can’t believe that there are savings.
Yes but we would love to think people pass away in there sleep . Cost per year is higher for a smoker yes . The cos for care for a non smoker on average catches up and even passes that of a lot of smokers do to fact they tend to live longer. I would bet more people in there 90s in nursing homes were non smokers than smokers.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/08/how-much-does-smoking-cos_n_184554.html
“Vanderbilt University economist Kip Viscusi studied the net costs
of smoking-related spending and savings and found that for every pack of cigarettes smoked, the country reaps a net cost savings of 32 cents. “It looks unpleasant or ghoulish to look at the cost savings as well as the cost increases and it’s not a good thing that smoking kills people,” Viscusi said in an interview. “But if you’re going to follow this health-cost train all the way, you have to take into account all the effects, not just the ones you like in terms of getting your bill passed.” Viscusi worked as a litigation expert for the tobacco industry in lawsuits by states but said that his research, which has been published in peer-reviewed journals, has never been funded by industry.
Other researchers have reached similar conclusions.
A Dutch study published last year in the Public Library of Science Medicine journal said that health care costs for smokers were about $326,000 from age 20 on, compared to about $417,000 for thin and healthy people. The reason: The thin, healthy people lived much longer.”
ururur
You are aware that MaineHousing also funds elderly units correct? Yes disban it and throw grandma into the street. You must be a Lepage/Romney supporter, you are all alike heartless selfish and refuse to acknowledge that life is not black and white and not everyone has the same exact situation.
Give them a one strike policy the first time you’re caught smoking you’re out on the street no questions asked. They basically get free housing and whatever else they can find a way to mooch out of the system the least they can do is not smoke in the place they live in for free.
,,
Good… maybe it will help the smokers quit or get a job and move into their own home or apartment and smoke until the cows come home.
Sure, or until someone starts squawking about how these smokers smoking in their own homes are costing taxpayers or insurance holders too much money, so they can’t smoke any more, blah blah blah.
This right here is the reason that you don’t take money from the federal government. Then they think they have the right to control every aspect of your life. They don’t have the right but they hold the purse, your purse.