New Rochelle City Hall Campus Smoke-free

Smoke 'em if you got 'em, but just not on the grounds of New Rochelle City Hall.

Effective Tuesday, Jan. 15, the City Hall campus and the adjacent Police Court Facility will be tobacco-free. Signs have been installed at al building entrances.

The decision comes from City Manager Charles Strome III and was based on recommendations of the Joint City New Rochelle/City School District of New Rochelle Smoke-Free Municipal Campus Committee.

The committee was established last spring to address the issue of cigarette smoke coming into offices and stairways from outdoor smokers.

Committee members included city employees, school board members and court facility personnel. Also on the committee was the school district's medical director, Dr. Adrienne Weiss-Harrison, and New Rochelle Sustainability Coordinator Deborah Newborn.

Strome said the committee received input from the American Lung Association POWR'R Against Tobacco Coalition, reviewed alternate sites for a designated smoking area, conducted a staff survey and looked at other state smoke-free municipalities.

The smoke-free campus was also approved by school district Superintendent Richard Organisciak. The district has its offices in the City Hall building.

"Our designation as a smoke-free campus protects the health and well-being of both employees and visitors alike," Strome said.

He said employees and City Hall visitors who wish to smoke can do so off the City Hall grounds, "perhaps the sidewalk areas."