It is very concerning that the Oct. 10, 2012, article by JoAnna Haugen, "Las Vegas hotels are green as well as glitzy," makes no mention of the fact that all of these so-called "green" casino properties are hazardous breathing environments full of toxic secondhand smoke. If the writer actually went to these properties, she would know that it is health hypocrisy to claim a casino is "green," thus implying that it is healthy and safe.
These so-called green programs are a sellout. The criteria for the certification should be that smoking cannot take place throughout the property, with no area carve-outs for indoor smoking. In addition, these casino properties are a web of buildings that are all interconnected. To have any smoking in any area of an interconnected building means it is not "green."
Stephanie Steinberg
Smoke-free Gaming of America
Englewood, Colo.
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