Mayor Bloomberg Wants Residential Buildings to Disclose Smoking Rules

Mayor Bloomberg is proposing legislation that requires New York City residential buildings to disclose their smoking policies.

Landlords would have to come up with a set of written rules letting residents know whether smoking is allowed in places like courtyards, balconies and even individual apartments. John Sirabella, with the NYC Coalition for a Smoke-Free City, said it's about time New York adopt the new policy. "It's a natural next step to protect the health of our families here in New York. We believe that every New Yorker has the right to breath clean, smoke-free air, where they live, work and play."

The Mayor said apartment dwellers are constantly complaining to the city about their neighbor's secondhand smoke. According to his staff, 311 received "thousands" of phone calls about the issue.

Audrey Silk, a founder of a smoker's rights group, said the proposal is just another part of Mayor Bloomberg's "crusade" against smoking. "This is not as non-threatening as Mayor Bloomberg wants it to appear. I'm sure he's already thinking how long it can be before he can propose the bill to ban it."

"This is beyond outrageous" Silk added. "People are asking 'Does this go to far?' That's an understatement by a mile."

Mayor Bloomberg says he has no plans to ban smoking-outright in New York City. "I've always believed, as you know, that if you want to smoke I think you should have a right to do so. But it kills you."

In 2003 Bloomberg banned smoking inside restaurants and bars. Last year the ban was extended to parks and beaches.