Nashville's Public Housing Goes Smoke Free
By AP
NASHVILLE, TN - Nashville's Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency says a new policy to ban smoking inside their high rise residence buildings will go into effect this weekend.
The agency said in a news release it has been educating the tenants about the anti-smoking policy for more than 18 months and starting on Saturday, smoking will only be allowed in designated areas outside the buildings.
The policy affects seven high rise apartment buildings in Nashville. Phil Ryan, executive director of the MDHA, said in a statement their elderly and disabled residents are vulnerable to the effects of second-hand smoke and they want to provide a safe and healthy living environment.
The agency said more than 200 people took advantage of smoking cessation classes that have been offered to residents in the buildings.