MEMPHIS, Tenn. — You could be banned from smoking in your apartment if you live in public housing.
Some smokers were furious and said they don’t understand why.
WREG spoke with a man whose mother lives in public housing. He said this was flat out wrong. Others said they understand both sides.
“I think it’s crazy. It just don’t make no sense, it’s taking away our rights,” said Willie Woodall.
Woodall may be banned from smoking inside his mother’s apartment. She lives in public housing.
“It’s unfair, it’s taking away my choice, my freedom to do what I choose to do for something so simple,” Woodall said.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development proposed the rule Thursday.
This would be a push to crack down on tobacco products and protect people from secondhand smoke.
The Interim Director of the Memphis Housing Authority said she understood both sides, but said it would be hard to enforce.
“The other side of that, we are landlords and landlords and hotel owners and people like that have begun having smoke free environments so that people who come in afterwards who have allergies or health concerns that they are able to live in a smoke free environment,” said Maura Sullivan with MHA.
Some were even afraid smoking in public housing could be a liability concern.
“One house catches on fire and several houses will burn down,” said a local man.
Woodall argued, everyone has the right to do whatever they choose.
“What’s the purpose of all of that? I understand that cigarettes are bad for us but a lot of things are bad for us and we still do those things,” Woodall explained.
HUD has given the public 60 days to comment.
The rule would take effect a year and a half after it’s finalized.
HUD also said this would cut down on the cost of maintenance.
The Memphis Housing Authority currently bans smoking in common areas.
