When it comes to certain smoking restrictions, Rockland is one step ahead of New York City.
Mayor Bloomberg recently proposed new legislation that would require owners of multi-family dwellings to delineate where smoking is and isn't allowed on their premises—a concept Rockland County has already passed into law.
Rockland County Legislature Vice Chairman Alden H. Wolfe authorized a similar law that went into effect January 1 of this year. The legislation mandates building owners and agents to establish smoking policies for residents and, in some cases, file the policies with the County Health Department.
If the owner fails to do so, they can face a civil penalty.
"I commend Mayor Bloomberg on his continuing effort to reduce secondhand smoke in New York City," Wolfe said. "This is a public health matter that needs to be addressed on the global level and the Mayor’s proposal for the great City of New York brings the matter to the forefront. I hope the City Council will support his proposal and conclude, as we did here in Rockland, that residential smoking policies will help to prevent conflicts among tenants, reduce health issues that result from exposure to secondhand smoke and will respect the personal rights of non-smoking and smoking tenants."
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