Silicon Valley Town Bans Smoking at Home

Nation's toughest anti-smoking law hits home for apartment dwellers

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 27, 2009 4:40 AM CST

(Newser) – A California town has passed legislation that will push many smokers out of their last remaining indoor sanctuary—their home, the New York Times reports. Belmont's law—believed to be the nation's toughest—bans smoking in any residence that shares a floor or ceiling with another. Officials credit the law to the efforts of a stubborn group of retirees fed up with secondhand smoke.

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (2)]

Helen Heinlo smokes outside of a coffee shop in Belmont, Calif. Belmont has passed legislation banning smoking in most apartments. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

Sasha Tsuros smokes outside of a coffee shop on a busy street in downtown Belmont, Calif. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

A no smoking sign is posted on a window of Starbucks in Belmont, Calif. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

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I’m absolutely outraged. They’re telling you how to live and what to do, and they’re doing it right here in America. - Smoker Edith Frederickson, 72

It gave me an instant headache, kind of like an iron band around the head. I could be sitting and have the air filters going, which eliminated the visible smoke, but the smoke was still there.
- Frederickson's neighbor Ray Goodrich, 84

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 24 comments

Guest

Jan 29, 2009 10:07 PM CST

Those of you commenting on people near entrances: You seriously exaggerate. Really. At a walking pace you hardly even notice the smoke, maybe the scent at most. Holding your breath as you walk by? Mate, please. At worst that one breath will do nothing to you. The second-hand smoke that does damage is being "hot-boxed" in a room of smokers. Littering is littering and cigarette butts are no exception, however.

Guest

Jan 28, 2009 3:39 AM CST

I guess not everyone gets that smoking affects people OTHER than the smoker. My brother has friends who smoke and they cannot tell that their "smoke" leaches into the air so I cannot stand a few feet from them when they are NOT smoking; cannot stand many yards from them when they ARE smoking; and cannot use any piece of cloth after they've sat on it or touched it for about a day, depending on whether they've just smoked or not; and find all their possessions smell like smoke. Why can't I stand smoke? Because I have asthma and smokers are trying to kill me. They tried to kill me when they could walk down most sidewalks smoking -- I would stop and wait about 1/2 a block before continuing -- very difficult when there were many smokers; when they stood right outside buildings smoking -- I had to hold my breath and enter or exit buildings as fast as possible; smoked in parks -- I just avoided all green space, knowing it was OWNED by smokers -- even though I love parks and gadens. For me, smokers are also the most inconsiderate litterers -- When I used to sweep the parking lot at my parents' business, the number one trash item, by far, were cigarettes. I always thought smoking meant a license to litter and throw dust particles at everyone around them. I'm glad finally someone is saying NO. Smoking affects other people's health, in a detrimental way. ALL people need to be aware of this.

riffran

Jan 27, 2009 9:25 PM CST

reminds me of a shirt I had once........"WARNING....LIVING ON THE PLANET EARTH HAS BEEN SHOWN TO CAUSE CANCER IN LABORATORY RATS!.....

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Silicon Valley Town Bans Smoking at Home