County welcomes two new smoke-free apartment complexes in Fairfield and Suisun City

August 15, 2017

SOLANO COUNTY – The Solano County Department of Health and Social Services, Public Health division, and Vibe Solano are pleased to announce two new smoke-free apartment complexes, including Grande Vista Apartments in Fairfield and Autumn Oaks in Suisun City.  By going smoke-free, these two apartment complexes mark the 18 and 19th living facilities to go smoke-free in Solano County.

Grande Vista apartments, located at 1990 Grande Circle in Fairfield, contains 41 units and agreed to go smoke-free in June 2017.

"Going smoke-free helps our residents stay healthy while keeping the property cleaner and free of cigarette butts," says Ladonna Roman, manager and owner of Grande Vista Apartments. “The best part is that our residents are very supportive of the new policy, and grateful to have less smoke in the air.”

Autumn Oaks apartments, located at 1400 Humphrey Drive in Suisun City has a total of 62 units and agreed to go smoke-free in September, 2017.  Tenants are currently being notified about the change.

“We're excited for Autumn Oaks to adopt a smoke-free policy,” says Jan Davenport, a Vibe Solano partner who worked with Autumn Oaks’ manager, Rosa Galindez, to make the change. “Implementing a smoke-free environment is an important part of preventing exposure to secondhand smoke, therefore improving the health of all tenants.”

Vibe Solano, a County Public Health initiative, collaborated with tobacco prevention and apartment management experts to approach Fairfield and Suisun City apartment owners and gauge their interest in going smoke-free. The team included Pastor Scott Mulvey with Neighborhood Empowerment, Annabelle Prassad with Fighting Back Partnership, Jan Davenport, former manager at Casa de Suisun and Alexandra Winston, local consultant who has worked in tobacco prevention for many years.

“For owners, going smoke-free can save a significant amount of money,” says Pastor Scott Mulvey with Neighborhood Empowerment. “It reduces turnover time, costs, fire risks, and can reduce insurance rates.”

According to Solano County Public Health, going smoke-free also saves apartment staff time cleaning shared spaces, and decreases tenant complaints about neighbors who smoke.

“For tenants, especially those with compromised respiratory systems, living in a smoke-free environment reduces risks of asthma attacks, respiratory illness, and smoke-related diseases such as lung cancer,” explains Wendy Loomas, Health Services Manager, Health and Social Services. “This can also translate into fewer days of work missed due to personal illness or caring for ill children or seniors.”

In addition to increasing the number of smoke-free apartments and public spaces, Vibe Solano is working to increase water access in schools, provide healthy food options in neighborhood convenience stores, support clinician and client connections, and offer free Healthier Living, Diabetes Prevention Program and Kick the Butts classes so that residents can live vibrant, healthy lives.

Along with Vibe Solano, Neighborhood Empowerment in Fairfield, Fighting Back Partnership in Vallejo, Greater Vallejo Recreation District, and Live Longer Suisun City are working towards a more vibrant, healthy Solano County for all residents.

This work is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Partnerships to Improve Community Health initiative, working with Solano Public Health.

For more information on how to go smoke-free, or information about other Vibe Solano initiatives, call (707) 784-8637 or visit www.VibeSolano.com.

About Vibe Solano
Vibe Solano is a set of Solano Public Health initiatives, working in partnership with a multi-sectoral coalition of leaders.  Our goal is to improve and increase healthy places and options throughout Solano County through policies and environmental changes, so that making the healthy choice is the easier choice. We have many partners, including Live Longer Suisun City, Fighting Back Partnership, and Neighborhood Empowerment because this work cannot be accomplished by just one organization.  Visit www.VibeSolano.com, or @VibeSolano on Facebook and Twitter to learn how to help us create a more vibrant, healthy Solano.