Northwell Health, NYC Smoke-Free Assist North Shore Towers in Becoming NY’s Largest Private Coop to Go Smoke-Free

Cigarettes have been extinguished forever at North Shore Towers and Country Club after shareholders of the 1,844-unit Queens cooperative voted overwhelmingly to protect residents from the dangers of secondhand smoke by prohibiting lighting up anywhere on the 110-acre property. That includes inside residential apartments, thanks to a unique collaboration between the community’s board of directors, Northwell Health and NYC Smoke-Free at Public Health Solutions.

The smoke-free resolution needed to be approved by two-thirds of co-op owners to amend the existing lease, something residents did with 72 percent of the vote. When the new bylaws go into effect on January 1, 2017, North Shore Towers will be the largest cooperative to implement smoke-free protections in New York City and possibly the United States.

“By establishing a smoke-free environment, North Shore Towers’ residents have created one of the healthiest places to live in Queens,” said Nancy Copperman, MS, RD, CDN, assistant vice president of public health and community partnerships at Northwell Health. “Their partnership in promoting health and wellness supports Northwell Health’s population health initiatives.”

As part of Northwell Health's Community Service Plan's tobacco control initiative, the health care system has worked with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and NYC Smoke-Free for the past four years to promote smoke-free environments throughout Queens. That included advising the board and giving a presentation to the North Shore Towers community on the benefits of a smoke-free environment and the dangers of secondhand smoke.

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the nation, according to the CDC. The mortality rate for smokers is three times higher – lung cancer and heart disease are leading killers – than for people who never smoked. And exposure to secondhand smoke can be just as deadly.

“When a board of directors works cooperatively and in the best interest of the community, it can accomplish miracles,” said North Shore Towers Board member Phyllis Goldstein. “Their decision to attempt to safeguard the health of all its residents by making North Shore Towers a smoke-free cooperative was a caring, non-political initiative.”

This was the second time Northwell and NYC Smoke-Free helped organize a vote to snuff out smoking at North Shore Towers. The first effort failed. To ensure all shareholders were aware of the proposal and its broad health implications this time, volunteers canvassed the three buildings and votes were cast during a two-month window. The result was an 88 percent turnout rate, which helped deliver a major public health victory by converting the co-op – so large it has its own zip code – to a smoke-free environment.

“North Shore Towers’ historic vote to go entirely smoke-free effective January 1, 2017 ensures that its vibrant community of seniors, families and children will be protected from tobacco pollution anywhere on the grounds” said Joel M. Bhuiyan, Queens Community Engagement Coordinator at NYC Smoke-Free. “We were thrilled to be help educate their residents on the dangers of secondhand smoke and the advantages of adopting a smoke-free policy, which in the end garnered overwhelming support.”

State Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside), an advocate for smoking cessation programs, commended the residents for their forward thinking at an event Monday marking the important resolution. Also in attendance: New York City Councilman Barry Grodenchik (D- Oakland Gardens); Queens Civic Congress President Kevin Forrestal; Phil Konigsberg (Community Board 7); Eileen Miller (Community Board 11); along with presidents of three smoke-free Queens co-ops, Marc Haken (Hilltop Village Co-op #4), Mel Doby (Hilltop Co-op Village #1) and Mary Boyd-Foy (Hilltop Village Co-op #2).