[img]1307|right|Meghan Sahli-Wells||no_popup[/img]In the last year, says City Councilperson Meghan Sahli-Wells, at least a dozen apartment dwellers have complained about the pervasiveness of smokers living in their buildings.
Many of those seeking relief have been young families, with babies on the way or already here. They say they have been affected by smoke at all hours, leaking into their homes via ventilators and windows.
Can, or should, anything be done?
As proof that the complaints have been heard, the Council formally will discuss proposed restrictive steps at Monday evening’s 7 o’clock meeting in Council Chambers.
Ms. Sahli-Wells told the newspaper this afternoon that she encourages smoking opponents to contact her (meghan.sahli-wells@culvercity.org) with potential resolutions.
“I don’t want to ban smoking,” she said. “I just want to limit it to places where the smoke will not be harmful to others.”
Two of the most critical dimensions of a smoking ban are:
• Why not single-family structures as well as multi-unit buildings?
• Enforcement – who and how?
Ms. Sahli-Wells said an anti-smoking group gave her documents that not only indicate how perilous the effects of direct smoke and second-hand smoke are, but third-hand smoke, too.
Third-hand, she explained, is the residue of smoking that remains in carpets, curtains and even furniture.
“Can you imagine a baby crawling along a carpet with the residue of smoke?” Ms. Sahli-Wells asked.
“That is scary.”
