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Why We Support Removal of Tobacco Ads in Stores...
Francis & Cheryl Putorti – Putorti’s Broadway Market "We have always felt advertising should never be geared toward children. We have always been very involved with the children of our community and like to promote healthy life choices. Even though we sell cigarettes and tobacco products in our store we feel it should be the choice of adults, not children."
Dick Rowland, Supervisor - Town of Greenfield "The Town Board felt that it was very important to ask vendors in our community to place advertising out of the eye sight of our youth. We feel that through leadership and example we can make a positive health impact on our community."
Michelle Burke - Hudson Falls Central School "The Hudson Falls Central School Board of Education recognizes the use of tobacco in any form poses serious and long-term health risks to individuals. Research has demonstrated that tobacco use is a leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States and if adolescents can be kept tobacco free, most will remain tobacco free for the rest of their lives. In addition, our District has developed a comprehensive program that addresses the use and promotion of tobacco products. It includes cessation programs, alternative to suspension programs and community intervention programs."
Why We Have a Tobacco Free Grounds Policy...
Jay Niles, Mayor, Village of Granville
“The Tobacco Free Zones Village Law gives our citizens the opportunity to enjoy our parks, playgrounds, museums, village office areas and concerts without being concerned about exposure to children and adults to second hand smoke. The law sets an example for our citizens that all of us need to be concerned about each other's well being and health. We are trying to model responsible behavior that improves village quality of life.”
Supervisor Dan Stec, Town of Queensbury "The Town of Queensbury is pleased to take a proactive step towards making all Town property smoke free for the health of both our employees and our residents."
Theresa Knorr-Transitional Services Association/Hedgergrow House "As our facility treats individuals who are recovering from alcoholism and other chemical dependencies, we feel strongly that treating tobacco addiction greatly enhances our clients ability to stay sober and to live a more healthy life. The NY State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services requires all treatment facilities to be tobacco free, including staff and residents."
Issac Pulver, Saratoga Springs Public Library
"A very large portion of our clientele is young children, pregnant mothers, and the elderly. Our decision to extend the smoking ban to the entire premises of the library was made in order to protect the health of all our visitors and employees."
Supervisor Kathleen Simmes - Town of Bolton
"In the interest of the health of our future generations we believe this is a positive approach to ensure that our children grow up in a safe and healthy environment."
Dr. James Seeley - Cornell Cooperative Extension in Warren County
"As a non-formal educational system our goal is to provide positive life skills programs for our constituents. Our commitment to education and research brings a wealth of experience to improve people’s quality of life. Thousand of people tap into Cornell’s research to make sound and confident decisions concerning home, family and environment. Our 4-H youth development programs promote youth leadership and safety. Our support of the Tobacco Free Policy and removal of tobacco advertising aligns with our mission to provide positive and safe programs to our youth."
Christine McDonald, Director, Crandall Public Library "Crandall Public Library is pleased to be involved in the partnership with The Southern Adirondack Tobacco Free Coalition and the City of Glens Falls to keep the Library grounds and City Park smoke free areas. Having these areas smoke free benefits all citizens of our region who want to have a pleasant experience using the Library and City Park."
Patti Garrand, Owner, TreePaad "TreePaad is excited about making our entrances Smoke-Free, when we found out about this program we were very excited to work on making our entrance smoke free. We understand and respect people's right to smoke; However, we value our customers lungs and feel that they should be able to walk in without having to walk through secondhand smoke. Thanks for helping us to make a difference with smoke free entrances and stand up for the health of all of our children."
Why Tobacco Free Recreational Sites...
Ben Driscoll (Ward 5 Councilman) Glens Falls Common Council "Glens Falls Parks and Recreational Properties are destinations for the young of heart, ages 1 to 100. We are proud to promote a clean, healthy and tobacco-free community for our residents and guests.”
Josh Milton, Director, City of Glens Falls Recreation Department
“I think it’s great that we are going tobacco-free at all of our recreational facilities. The whole idea of recreation is to get healthy and by not allowing tobacco at our facilities we are definitely helping to accomplish that goal.”
Marcie Hankinson, Director, North Country Asthma Coalition“The North Country Asthma Coalition would like to congratulate the City of Glens Falls and the Town and Village of Fort Edward for their tobacco-free recreational sites! Tobacco smoke is one of the leading triggers of asthma, a chronic disease affecting about 6.8 million children under the age of 18! Thank you for caring about our lungs!!”
Why Smoke-Free Apartment Buildings...
Andi Wood, Manager, Cynthia Meadows (Senior housing complex with Conifer Realty, LLC) “A smoke-free policy can be difficult on the seniors who smoke. It is just one more thing that is taken away. So you need to present this as a good thing for them: health, save money, more friends, less damage to their possessions and to the property.
As we go through the process, there are many tenants that thank me for being kind and understanding and they are now glad they do not smoke because they have more money, $10.00 a pack a day is a lot of money for seniors on fixed income - That is $3650.00 a year - almost half of their social security for the year!!
It is quite a process, but in the end it makes their lives much better, they have money, they feel better. The damage smoking does on the property is overwhelming on our really tight budgets, so that will eventually give us better use of our money to do more for the property in general.”
Jay Verro, CCIM Multi Family & Investment Specialist, Albany “I used to be in Apartment Property Management for nearly 20 years prior to my brokerage career. I created a non-smoking building in the mid-90's for a new community that had a couple of buildings with lousy views. They filled up immediately upon the non-smoking designation.”
Chuck Hoffman, apartment complex owner, Clifton Park,“Oak Brook Commons is pleased to offer a safer and healthier environment for our residents and guests.”
Paul F. Spinelli, Queensbury, New York (Independent Property Owner)
“Thank you for giving me the opportunity to express my feelings about my "Smoke-Free" rental units. In the past we never tried to regulate smoking and each and every time a tenant moved we had to paint, and sometimes, even that didn't eliminate the odor. Oftentimes carpets and vinyl floors were burned and unsightly and needing replacement. Needless to say not only was it harder to rent my units but the cost of cleaning, painting and re-carpeting was really cutting into our profits.
Since instituting and enforcing the "No smoking" policy my tenants are safer and happier, my buildings are cleaner, my Liability insurance is less expensive and net profits are higher.
Thank you for all your efforts on my behalf and I continually "tout' your product to other landlords.”
Al Miller, Saratoga Springs apartment owner "As the owner of Annandale Mansion and multiple residential units within Saratoga Springs, it became clear years ago that people who sought housing preferred their dwelling and surrounding apartments to be smoke-free. The absence of people smoking provided a cleaner, safer and more pleasant environment for all. As an owner and the person responsible for the upkeep and maintenance, I benefit immensely because a smoke-free building is always cleaner, fresher and easier to transition between tenants. Also, I have found that I have gained rather than lost prospective tenants based on this designation."
Robert Rigano of Rigano Renovations "We realized we were spending extra time and money on an apartment turnover when the previous tenant was a smoker. After a smoker has vacated an apt the extra cleaning and paint we realized was excessive. At times the walls needed to be washed before we could paint 2 coats to cover the yellowing from smoke. On one occasion we were unable to get the smell of cigarette smoke out of the refrigerator and had to dispose of it. Also carpets take extra cleaning or complete removal to get rid of the smell. We now have a non-smoking policy in our lease and had present tenants sign a rider both stating there is no smoking in any part of our building. The tenants we have that are smokers have cooperated and really do smoke outside (even through the winter months). This policy has made our apartments easier to rent now that we can tell possible tenants that our apartments are a smoke free environment."
Robert Mcrea "My decision to adopt a smoke-free policy was initially due to complaints from my best tenant, and my desire to keep her in the building. She had complained of smelling the cigarette smoke from downstairs, largely entering her apartment through heating piping penetrations through the floor. Sealing everything as best I could did not eliminate the smoke infiltration entirely, and luckily, the downstairs tenant had decided to move out, so I saw the perfect opportunity to go smoke-free. I see the benefits of that decision.Windows were much easier to clean, ceiling fans and window blinds were simply dusty and not covered in smoke film, the carpets were undamaged from burns and simple to clean, and I didn't have to repaint the entire apartment. I didn't have to scrub all the crown moldings and ceiling medallions, the cabinet doors, appliance exteriors, and light fixtures. People don't realize it, but that smoke film is on EVERYTHING. I can't think of one disadvantage to my decision to have a smoke-free building. Not one. Best of all, enforcement hasn't been a problem at all. I haven't had one complaint and I haven't found one instance of smoking in my building since instituting the policy."
Penny Rudinger, Lexington Management "Our choice to go smoke free has been a benefit for all; several tenants have quit smoking as a result.And our non-smoking tenants are happy they can move about the property common areas without coming into contact with second hand smoke." |
