To Condo Owners at the Commons:

I am collecting signatures for a petition to request a "Special Meeting" to address unwanted, drifting, secondhand smoke in and outside the units. I will need to get 50% of you to respond by this Sunday, May 17th, so please spread the word!

While smokers have the right to smoke, we non-smokers have rights too! We have the right to clean air + good health + to live in a safe environment that is not hazardous to our health.

I believe the drifting secondhand smoke violates the nuisance provision of the Commons, as it causes an unreasonable disturbance to our use of the property. Translation: We shouldn't have to come home to a condo smelling like an ashtray everyday when we don't even smoke! It's not fair. And when you try to "air out" your smoky condo, you can't even get clean air! That fresh air doesn't exist when neighbors are chain smoking outside on their decks and patios. It's a lose / lose scenario and I am finally stepping up + doing something about it!

The deadly effects of secondhand smoke are well-documented in children, adults + pets. SHS (secondhand smoke) is linked to: lung cancer, lymphoma, leukemia, brain tumors, cancers of the larynx, throat, nasal sinuses, brain, bladder, rectum, stomach, and breasts. It is linked to a marked increase in birth defects + life-threatening respiratory conditions such as asthma.

Tobacco smoke can move through air ducts, wall and floor cracks, and along crawl spaces to contaminate apartments on other floors, even those that are far from the smoke. SHS cannot be controlled with ventilation, air cleaning, or by separating smokers from non-smokers.

Something needs to be done about this asap! Our health is at risk right now + everyday that goes by without taking action is a day wasted. It's another day of unwanted exposure to SHS that can + will shorten our lives, if we don't stop it! It is NOT okay that our health is repeatedly compromised on a daily basis + that we can't even be comfortable (or you know, breathe) in our own home. At least smokers can choose to smoke + where to smoke. Nonsmokers can't choose to breathe! Think about it.

Thank you for your support. I know many of you feel the same way + it's time we take action! There has to be a solution for everyone and a Special Meeting is our 1st step.