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Everyone has their own memory of Winnie-the-Pooh, aka Pooh bear. Whether it was hearing him ask for honey or the sweet cries of ‘oh bother’ when he was unsure of what to do, we all have memories of A.A.Milne’s beloved creation. The story of Pooh has been around for almost 95 years, so it’s no […]

The New York City Housing Authority issued a ban on smoking in all New York City public housing (including smoking inside apartments) as of July 30.

The policy “prohibits the use of cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and hookah pipes in indoor common areas, within public housing units, in administrative offices, and in outdoor areas within 25 feet of NYCHA buildings,” according to NYCHA’s website.

NYCHA issued the ban after the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) mandated that all public housing had to be smoke-free.

In a statement from the New York City Mayor’s Office, “the final smoke-free rule was announced at the end of the Obama Administration, under HUD Secretary Julian Castro. It was published in December 2016, but did not take effect until February 2017.”

“Every child deserves to grow up in a safe, healthy home free from harmful second-hand cigarette smoke,” said then-Secretary Castro in a press release. “HUD’s smoke-free rule is a reflection of our commitment to using housing as a platform to create healthy communities. By working collaboratively with public housing agencies, HUD’s rule will create healthier homes for all of our families and prevent devastating and costly smoking-related fires.”

“My office has long warned the public about the dangers of smoking, including second-hand smoke,” said then-U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy. “For children who are exposed to second-hand smoke, it can mean everything from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and ear infections to asthma. Protecting our children and families from the devastation caused by secondhand smoke must be a priority for all sectors of our society, including public housing.”

When HUD first proposed the ban, the policy was criticized by homeless advocates who said it could increase the amount of homeless—addicted smokers who violate the ban could potentially be evicted.

ThinkProgress, a progressive news site, said that smoking bans in public housing was essentially, “nannying the poor.” From a blog post at ThinkProgress: “…people who are eligible for public services of various kinds still have to contend with a variety of other attempts to micromanage their lives and choices from afar.”

NYCHA has been under fire for providing sub-standard living conditions for public housing tenants. From reports of vermin infestation, rampant mold, to a recent report that more than 800 children living in NYCHA housing tested positive for elevated levels of lead.

The post New York City Completely Bans Smoking in Public Housing appeared first on Black Enterprise.

"As long as I've been living my life I never felt not special."

It's been a week since it was officially announced that Jay Ellis' character, Lawrence, won't be returning to season three of Issa Rae's HBO hit sitcom Insecure and fans still have something to say about the news. On Monday, the Emmy-nominated actress and show creator shared a few of her thoughts and feelings about a petition circulating on the internet to bring the fictional character back to the screen when the show returns in August for Season 3.  [brightcove id=5530870210001] "Sign our petition to HBO pleading for Jay Ellis to return as Lawrence--then SHARE far and wide so that everyone who loves Lawrence can have their voice heard," wrote a fan for an actual website, WHERESLAWRENCE.com. "We want Lawrence back!" The post, which was sponsored on Facebook, was brought to Rae's attention and her response was of course, hilarious.  "Wow. A sponsored post, though? Like... money was spent?," the 33-year-old said.  Other Insecure stars chimed in on the hilarity of the Where's Lawrence campaign, including fellow actress Yvonne Orji and showrunner Prentice Penny.  "Funds. (And a website)." #WeLoveLawrenceToo," wrote Orji who stars opposite Rae's character as her best friend Molly, while Penny facetiously responded, "I got five on it."  Rae confirmed to Vulture in July that Ellis wouldn't be returning to the show after their characters shared a heartbreaking post-breakup goodbye at the end of season two. That goodbye, Rae said, was final--and for good reason.  "We want to stay as true to life as possible. They had a great conversation at the end of season two and it was just about like, hey, she’s moving on Daniel, sometimes we have those conversations," she said. "You never see the exes again. And it’s okay! You gotta explore life without Lawrence." Sorry, #LawrenceHive, the powers that be have spoken...again. ​​​​​​Insecure returns for season three on HBO, August 12.