Letter from Cindy Christiansen
As Milton develops its Master Plan and as we discuss plans for condominiums and other multi-family development in our Town, I want to suggest that the Town adopt a public health policy for new multi-family homes.
I’m asking that the appropriate Town Boards, Committees, Departments and Town Meeting set policy to require that developers of new multi-family units designate their buildings to be smoke free. Now is the time to think about this given the influx of plans for multi-family homes in Milton.
I think most developers see the public-good and financial benefits of making their residential buildings smoke free. These policies have been shown to increase property value, reduce maintenance costs, reduce risk of fire, and reduce exposure to second-hand smoke. There are many other benefits. One local developer told me that all of his buildings are smoke-free and that his tenants love it.
Additionally, there is much legal precedence in MA and across the country for smoke-free polices for multi-family homes. Condominium Trustees and unit owners in many Massachusetts towns, with help from their local Boards of Health, are changing condominium bylaws to designate their shared-air to be smoke-free. Informed buyers now look for homes in buildings with no-smoking policies. Let’s start with our new developments and make them smoke-free.
Please join me in making this happen: new multi-family developments in Milton should be smoke free.
Cindy L. Christiansen, Town Meeting Member Precinct 7, clcMilton@gmail.com
I hate second-hand smoke anywhere (especially outside!). I quit smoking over 30 years ago and love fresh air. But I am not in favor of social policy trumping personal freedoms. And by the way, the people have spoken: We are still awaiting implementation of the Comm. of MA medical marijuana law, and the last time I read about it, the ONLY place that it will be legal to consume one’s “medicine” is in one’s own personal domicile. The libertarian in me begs you to please drop this campaign.
I agree with Spencer Day, this and many other issues are freedom of choice issues. Our great country was built on certain freedoms that in recent years have been slowly picked apart by seeming well meaning individuals and groups.
That being said, I never smoked, I feel its a terrible habit and it quite probably killed my Dad at a relatively young age.
I would respectfully advise the author to give up the campaign, carefully study what made this country great and refocus your efforts on other more important matters.
I have to disagree with Bob and Spencer.
t’s not just a matter of personal choice but one of leasing desirability, public health, and health care costs. Many places throughout the country are establishing no smoking policies in both public and private spaces to protect public health and reduce health care costs. People won’t want to buy or lease space in a building where smoking is allowed because of health care issues and the undesirability of living with the odors.
Smoking can not just be a private choice because of the impacts it has on so much more than the individual person.