As a non-smoker, I can appreciate this building's decision to go smoke-free; but as someone who tries to see both sides of an argument, I can also understand why this move might ruffle some people's feathers.
As of January 1, 2011, the smokers at 520 North Kingsbury Street in Chicago's River North neighborhood, have two choices: stop lighting up, or start packing. The 420-unit apartment building has hung out their no smoking sign and the residents will have to comply or get evicted.
Tenants who are caught puffing on a ciggy, will be fined $350.00. Get caught a second time, and you're out!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
9 comments:
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OMG! This is so sounding like a Nazi Germany thing and we all know what happened with that. The last time I checked, this was still America and a FREE country, where EVERYONE has rights. I think these non-smoking fanatics NEED to get a life! How about putting that wasted energy on combating crime? How about putting it towards tutoring or mentoring? What about volunteering? These very same people will stand behind a bus emitting fumes, wait at the Metra station where we all know about the fumes from the trains, stand behind a delivery truck or school bus. Do they want those things stopped? Why in the hell do they think the plowed snow becomes BLACK! What about all the pesticides and preservatives they put in their bodies from the food they eat? Get a life! I live in a high rise where people smoke on my floor and I have NEVER smelled it in my unit OR the hallway so I would ask would kind of construction they have. I am so sick of these whiners. The more they get, the more they want. It's NEVER enough. Last thing they got was no smoking OUTSIDE..OUTSIDE in the FREE air. Some people just want to have something to bitch about. It's ok to fight for rights but at the cost of other people? WTF! I think this building is going to have to pay the smokers dearly if they have a lease and now they have to get out! Let's talk about the smell from different ethnic cooking..I could puke sometimes at the smell. How about peanut oder, which some people are allergic too and pet dander, also an allergen. Some people are allergic to garlic and can't deal with the smell. When does it stop and whatever happen to the "privacy of your own home"? GET A LIFE PEOPLE!
ReplyDeleteThis is a really interesting story and I wish I could to some of the smokers in that building.
ReplyDeleteI think they're opening a "pandora's box" and it's gonna get nasty.
ReplyDeleteThose were my thoughts. I searched a website site called apartmentratings.com, but there was no listing for that building. Tenants really speak their mind on that website.
ReplyDeleteI live in this building and I am thrilled management has chosen to oust the smokers! They are a fire hazard and they stink up the place with their filthy cigarette smoke. That smoke gets into my apartment and allover my clothes and drapery. I think most people in the building agree with me.
ReplyDeleteThere are no laws that guarantee anyone the right to smoke. But there are laws against exposing others to harmful or noxious fumes. Most rental agreements have a no nuisance clause.
I have a hard time reconciling the two sides on this issue for several reasons. I am not a smoker and find the practice pretty gross but it is that person's choice to smoke and until the practice is outlawed it is their right to do so. If this were a government telling the building residents to stop lighting up in their own dwelling I would have a major problem with government overstepping it bounds. They would also have to outlaw smoking in single family houses as well to prevent the blatant hypocrisy with such a scenario.
ReplyDeleteWith this being a mandate set forth by building management of this privately owned apartment complex they are within their rights to dictate activities that may harm the integrity of their property just in the same way as hotel operators can designate their rental units as being non-smoking. However, to only ban smoking and not other activities that create just as obnoxious aromas is just not fair. It could be argued that the second hand smoke affects others who are not smoking but within the confines of one's own apartment it should not be an issue. See, here is where the conflicts come in. I have never encountered errant smoke penetrating into any of the apartments I have ever lived in but I guess it can be a problem in poorly ventilated or poorly designed building units.
One side of me says we have rights as American's to do whatever crappy unhealthy thing we want to ourselves while the other side says we must protect those who cannot protect themselves or do not know any better about how their behavior affects others. I guess what it comes down to is respect. In my building (a vintage 15 story high-rise) I know there are several smokers who live here. The only reason I know they smoke is because they take it outside even though they do not have to. They all have a level of respect for their neighbors (except of course the lady that lives on the 2nd floor on the street side whose window everyone seems to smoke under but that is another discussion).
Recirculating ventilated air is prohibibted by city building codes in residential units. Building inspectors should be notified to see why this is necessary.
ReplyDeleteHappy; Having lived in MANY buildings in this city with smokers, I contend that YOU are not getting the smoke smell in your apartment and it seems almost impossible that your "clothes" also smell of smoke. It's NEVER happened to me in ANY unit I have lived in. Either that building was built in a shoddy manner or YOU and the rest of the non-smokers are jumping on a band wagon. "fire hazard"? most fires are caused by cooking, overloading outlets or faulty wiring. I would be concerned if anyone smokes pot in that building because I can't stand the smell of that, along with many other ethnic cooking smells. How about Drinking and obnoxious behavior some people engage in while drunk? I'm sure that offends other people. I don't drink OR do drugs but it's a persons right to do so. YOU and the rest of the non-smoking naysayers NEED to be very careful who you point a finger at..you than have 3 pointing back at you. This management company is taking this buildings owners down the path to a lawsuit. I love the way non-smokers also go out of their way to be right around smokers and than bitch and I particular like how a "riot can be incited by just a few people". "Smoke on your clothes IN your unit"? I doubt it. "Smoke in your unit"? I doubt that as well. I suppose you would complain if they were on their OWN balcony as well.. polluting the air with their little puffs of smoke...Stand by those noxious fumes by the trains, cabs, buses, delivery trucks...Think that's not harming you???!!! Many people die from lung cancer who are neither around second hand smoke or smoked ever! Beverly Sills comes to mind and I'm sure I can think of others. Smoking is not the ONLY way a person gets lung cancer. Think about all the poisons YOU and the rest of the nay-sayers have been putting in your body with the various foods you've been eating. One thing in the pop is said to cause cancer and it's in a lot of other things as well. Get real. I doubt you'll stop eating or drinking. Go ahead, do some research on the pesticides, steroids, anti-biotics and preservatives in the food you eat and the stuff you drink...will you than starve yourself?!
ReplyDelete"Anonymous @9:12" You might have hit on something there about the recirculating air. I hope someone calls in an inspector. These builders cut corners all the time to save money and time..but mostly money. In our building, if you decide to gut your unit and rehab it, it's shocking to see the studs 24 on center rather than 16. The insulation on outside walls is almost nonexistent as well. Wonder who inspects these buildings and how they miss things like this? Oops...I guess that would be what "payoff" mean..
ReplyDelete