Smoking a problem outside hospital

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Cigarette litter is nothing new on city streets but residents who live around Womens and Childrens Hospital say, all of a sudden, it's everywhere you look.

"People are loitering right in front of our houses and then the smoke is going everywhere and they leave butts around the neighborhood and it's not acceptable," said Suzanne Evans who lives on Oakland Ave in the City.

The problem started July First when a new no smoking policy took effect on all Kaleida Health Campuses. Unable to smoke on the property, workers and visitors at Womens and Childrens moved across the street.

Eric Stenclik of the Bryant-Oakland-Summer Association explained, "No one's making a moral judgment. It's simply no resident should have smokers or people lingering around their homes - smoking."

It's a sensitive issue that took some smokers by surprise. It would be difficult to blame smoker Kim Beltz's for not thinking about it. "My son is having brain surgery as we speak. This is a stress break," she admitted.

Chris Erickson just became the father of a preemie. When asked what he was goign to do with his cigarette butt he admitted, "Throw it in the street actually."

"Why can't you throw butt in garbage can?" asked News 4's Lorey Schultz. Erickson answered, "I will. I didn't think of that."

Kaleida Representatives recognize how urgent the issue is. "Our security has extra patrols to remind people to respect peoples privacy and property . We have existing signage and new signage coming next week," said John Moscato, a Kaleida Health Spokesman.

But the question is, will it be enough?

Evans said, "We would like to see this as a no smoking area. No smoking in this neighborhood."

Hospital Administrators and the surrounding neighborhood associations are working closely on this issue. To start - 25 news signs will be posted around the parameter of the hospital next week, gently reminding people to respect the Kaleida Facility and private property.