Pubdate: Wed, 03 Apr 2002
Source: Chicago Sun-Times (IL)
Copyright: 2002 The Sun-Times Co.
Contact:  http://www.suntimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/81
Author: Robert D. Manewith
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n645/a04.html
Alert: It Is Not OK To Evict Granny http://www.mapinc.org/alert/0237.html

PICKING ON THE POOR

I concur with Mary Mitchell [column, March 28] that the Supreme Court did a 
disservice to law-abiding citizens in upholding a "one-strike" public 
housing law in California. We have a similar law here: If some drug-using 
relative or friend visits a public housing resident, that person can be 
evicted. This decision gives the Chicago Housing Authority just the weapon 
it needs, however, to depopulate any public housing structure it wants to 
empty, for whatever reason. The CHA can supply a name-and-address list of 
all tenants in a targeted building to some third party, and then "suggest" 
that this party mail a small amount of marijuana to each resident. As the 
mail is delivered, the one-strike police arrive with eviction notices in 
hand. How efficient, how quick, how ludicrous! What a great way to trample 
the civil rights of those least able to protect and defend themselves.

Robert D. Manewith, West Ridge
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MAP posted-by: Ariel