Possible exemption for homeless shelter raises larger questions about health, safety
Jump to full article: Ann Arbor (MI) News, 2002-10-03
Author: DON FABER / News Staff Reporter
Intro: A public hearing Wednesday on the proposed Washtenaw County regulation eliminating smoking in public places quickly focused on the new homeless shelter that could be exempt from the regulation.
Ellen R. Schulmeister, executive director of the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County, said the smoking rate was high among those who would occupy the shelter in downtown Ann Arbor. She asked the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners to grant a waiver that would allow the shelter "separate ventilated smoking areas which exhaust directly to the outside."
Smoking rooms would be part of a center "that operates safely and efficiently," she said.
Another speaker said maintaining smoking rooms inside the shelter would alleviate a lot of neighborhood concerns about smoking and "other activities" occurring outside the shelter.
But not everyone is convinced an exception is a good idea.
Roberta Asplund of Ann Arbor said smoking is an addiction and having a shelter that allows smoking only adds to their (residents') addiction. "It's against the law for a county agency to support smoking in that building; government should be an example."
"If you grant a waiver to the shelter, it should be fashioned in such a way that second-hand smoke is vented to the outside," said Cliff Douglas of Ann Arbor. He urged the board to not weaken the proposed regulation.
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