Richmond, California, a pioneer in smokefree multi-unit housing: Results from a qualitative study

Richmond, California is one of the first communities in the country to enact simultaneously a comprehensive package of tobacco control laws. These laws include a novel approach to reduce secondhand smoke exposure by making it illegal to smoke tobacco products in multi-unit housing (MUH). Project objectives are to 1) study what key stakeholders know about the development and enforcement of Richmond's smokefree MUH ordinance, 2) identify potential barriers to its full implementation, and as a result of these efforts, 3) create forums and materials to improve adherence to the ordinance. We conducted focus groups and one-on-one interviews with community stakeholders such as residents, landlords, city officials, law enforcement, and local public health advocates. Data analyses highlight the importance of nonconfrontational educational sessions, working with building managers to display the required signage and identification of the designated smoking areas, and the need for smoking cessation assistance. Questions of enforceability and definitional refinements regarding tobacco and marijuana smoke appear to be central concerns for enforcement and judicial personnel, as well as for many residents. Given that smokefree policies in MUH represent a new area of interest in tobacco control, it is important to understand how stakeholders adopt and carry out these policies. The goal of this project is to ensure that Richmond's ordinance is implemented equitably across its socially and economically diverse neighborhoods. Additionally, results from our study could inform other diverse urban cities on how they can smoothly adopt and implement similar policies.