Smoke-Free Housing: A Resolution in Queens

Our overall mission is to promote a tobacco-free society that benefits the health of all NYC residents. Some of our work at the community level includes partnering with local Community Boards across NYC to heighten awareness of tobacco control issues and support neighborhood based efforts. Recently, Queens Community Board 11 passed a resolution encouraging SFH policies in multi-unit dwellings as well as support for Smoking Disclosure Policies. To help provide a glimpse into the process, we have invited a guest blogger, Susan Cerezo, the Queens Community Board 11 Health Committee Co-Chairperson:

Susan Cerezo, Queens CB 11 Health Committee Co-Chair

Smoke-Free Housing.

Almost everyone knows or connects to a loved one or to a friend who has dealt with ramifications with cigarette smoking and/or second hand smoke. At the October 6^th Community Board (CB) meeting during public participation, Phil Konigsberg, a CB 7 Health Committee member, presented a resolution for Smoke-Free Housing for multifamily dwellings, including coops and condos.

NYC’s Rising Smoking Rates

This month, the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene released data from the 2013 Community Health Survey, revealing NYC adult smoking rates have increased to 16.1%. This is a substantial increase from the historic low rate of 14% in 2010, which occurred after a variety of tobacco prevention and control initiatives (expansion of the smoke-free air act, new public health campaigns, and price increases) were implemented.

New Restrictions on Tobacco Coupons and Discounts in NYC

Our guest blogger is Harlan Juster, PhD.,Director, Bureau of Tobacco Control, New York State Department of Health.

Welcome from Albany.

Recently, New York City made great progress moving tobacco control forward becoming the most significant community in the nation to place restrictions on discounts and coupons for tobacco products and setting a significant “price floor.” These restrictions combine to offset the tobacco industry’s strategy of undermining high prices for tobacco products, one of the most powerful interventions we have in tobacco control. While the tobacco industry initially sued the city, the new law was upheld and the industry chose not to appeal the outcome.  Thus, restrictions on coupons and discounts went into effect on August 1^st while the price floor regulation was not challenged and went into effect earlier in the year.

This is a very positive outcome for New York City and for tobacco control in general.  It bodes well for our state which has the highest tax in the nation, comprehensive clean indoor air legislation, and an evidence-based tobacco control program.  Point of sale policy initiatives, like those passed in New York City are the next logical step as we continue to push hard to reduce the influence of the tobacco industry on youth initiation and adult cessation.

Thanks to our New York City contractors and contractors across the state for all the good work they do to reduce the impact of tobacco industry promotion and marketing, and protect the health and well-being of all New Yorkers.

 

The Myths About Hookah

While there have been declines in teen cigarette use, other forms of tobacco (hookah, e-cigarettes) are gaining in popularity among teens. According to the nationwide Monitoring the Future study, 21 percent of high school seniors smoked a water pipe device, commonly known as a hookah, sometime in the last year.

Teens often may not know that hookah smoking can be as dangerous as cigarettes.

Here are some common myths about hookah smoking:

Smoke-Free Housing Summit: Keeping the Momentum

Changing social norms takes time.

Just fifteen years ago, passengers on international flights could smoke, restaurants and bars were filled with smoke, office workers smoked at their desks, and our parks and beaches were littered with cigarette butts.

Now we can breath clean smoke-free air where we work and socialize–but necessarily where we live. If you live in a multi-unit/family building, near a smoker, you can be exposed to secondhand smoke.

New Yorkers are increasingly embracing smoke-free housing because all too often, when one person smokes, the whole building smokes.

Here’s to Your Health: Celebrating our Progress in Tobacco Control

Some Coalition staff at the celebration.

On June 18, 2014, Public Health Solutions celebrated progress in public health at its benefit, To Your Health 2014.  Colleagues, friends, and stakeholders joined us at Guastavino’s, a perfect backdrop for an evening of celebration, community, and commitment.

The work of the Coalition, a program of Public Health Solutions, was highlighted during the event.  This video shows the tremendous strides made in tobacco control and prevention.

Smoke-Free Housing: The Healthy Choice

New Yorkers are increasingly embracing smoke-free housing.

According to DNAinfo, as recently as 2008, only one rental listing advertised that it was in a smoke-free building and no for-sale condos or co-ops were advertised as smoke-free. But by 2013, 1,488 rentals, 100 condos and 66 co-ops were listed in smoke-free buildings. This year, Equity Residential’s 490-unit building, the tallest in Brooklyn, went smoke-free.

The Coalition works closely with tenants, landlords, and building managers to increase the adoption of voluntary smoke-free housing policies throughout New York City. We provide technical assistance, educate residents about the danger of secondhand smoke, and help landlords and building managers tailor smoke-free policies to meet their needs.

How Should the FDA Regulate E-Cigarettes?

June 19, 2014 marked the fifth anniversary of the landmark 2009 law (Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act) granting the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority over tobacco products.

The Coalition commends the FDA for the steps it has taken to reduce tobacco use and applauds the agency’s efforts to extend its regulatory authority over e-cigarettes and other tobacco products. It’s an important first step, but we believe the FDA can and should do more to regulate how and to whom e-cigarettes are marketed.

New Media Campaign Targets the Chinese Community

(Left to Right): Lenny Cheng and Wai Yee Chen (CPC-Brooklyn), former NYC Council Member Sara Gonzalez, Edric Robinson (our BK team) and Eunice Huang (CPC-Brooklyn).

While we’ve made great strides in reducing the overall smoking rate in New York City, smoking remains a big problem in Asian communities. A New York Times article pointed out that tobacco smoking is still a “way of life” in the heart of the City’s Asian communities.

A study published in Health Promotion Practice showed that high smoking rates in New York City’s Asian communities have persisted since 2012, especially among men. Smoking rates were particularly high (40.1%) among Chinese men living in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn.

To address this disparity, our Brooklyn team and their community partner, the Chinese American Planning Council–the Brooklyn Branch (CPC-Brooklyn) designed a public service ad campaign targeting Chinese (Mandarin)-speaking men to advocate for smoke-free housing in a culturally relevant and pertinent way.  We’re pleased to announce that the campaign will run in issues of Epoch Times, Sing Tao, and World Journal this week.

According to the CPC-Brooklyn, a child’s future is the foremost priority for many Chinese parents. Therefore, in the campaign, we contrast two Chinese homes, each with different futures for the child.

Smoking and the LGBT Community

Despite historic declines in smoking rates over the past ten years, there are still some people who smoke at disproportionately higher rates than the general population, including people who identify as LGBT.

June is LGBT Pride Month. The Coalition, the American Cancer Society and our community partners in the NYC LGBT Smoke-Free Initiative will join The March on Sunday, June 29. If you’d like to march with us, please let us know by registering here. We line up at 11am.

You can also visit our booth at PrideFest. We want to raise awareness among the LGBT community about their biggest health burden: smoking.

Please share this new infographic from LGBT Health Equity. It’s time for smoking to come out of the closet.