Pubdate: Wed, 16 Nov 2005
Source: Times Union (Albany, NY)
Copyright: 2005 Capital Newspapers Division of The Hearst Corporation
Contact:  http://www.timesunion.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/452
Author: Michele Morgan Bolton

THREE-PART PLAN TARGETS DRUG DEALERS

Albany Landlords Get Help In Ousting Problem Tenants

ALBANY -- A trio of Park South crack houses were the backdrop Tuesday 
for a new neighborhood safety initiative that city and county 
officials hope will drive drug dealers from the community.

As he unveiled the Safe Homes -- Safe Streets program in front of 12 
Dana Ave., District Attorney David Soares waved a 6-inch stack of 
police printouts detailing more than 500 calls for assistance to that 
boarded-up building -- and to its neighbors at 14 and 16 Dana Ave. -- 
over the past five years.

During that time, tenants of the three buildings -- and the people 
who visit them -- have been charged with a range of felonies, 
including selling drugs.

"Each of these calls costs more than $100 in direct costs and as many 
as several thousands in follow-ups," Soares said. "When we clean up 
these crack houses, this money can be better spent on street 
lighting, remedial reading classes or better sports programs for our teens."

Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings and Police Chief James Turley joined 
Soares in announcing the initiative that will be implemented in three parts.

A landlord training program will teach property owners how to avoid 
renting to tenants with known criminal records for selling narcotics. 
It will also help create leases that reflect community standards.

A narcotics eviction program will give landlords a leg up in booting 
out those who conduct illegal activities on the premises.

And a trespass affidavit program will let landlords and tenants fight 
crimes committed in the public spaces between private buildings by 
vigorously enforcing "no trespass" laws.

One of Soares' staff members will be the contact person for 
confronting drug dealing, prostitution, trespassing, the sale of 
stolen property, gambling and other illegal activities in private buildings.

"This is not a matter of the system breaking down," Soares said. 
"It's making sure we get the problem at the root. This is a new 
administration. And we are taking a more proactive approach."

Soares said the program is being launched now because cold weather 
will soon drive dealers indoors. "This makes it more difficult for 
law enforcement and it can make life difficult for peace-loving neighbors."

Most city landlords are responsible property owners, Jennings 
stressed. But the failings of a few have hurt neighborhoods like Park South.

"We are saying to all landlords, we care about your properties," 
Jennings said. "Sometimes there are difficult tenants. And this is a 
way to leverage quicker action."

Mark Boyd owns buildings at 90 Lark, 186 First and 571 Second streets.

He said he's been lucky to rent to good people. Some of his friends 
haven't been so fortunate.

Everyone suffers, though, when drugs infiltrate a neighborhood, Boyd 
said. "If someone across the street is selling drugs, no one will 
want to live there. By not staying, I end up losing business. And 
then, who is going to pay the mortgage?"

Park South Neighborhood Watch coordinator Valerie Flanders, who owns 
property on Morris Street, said everyone knows there's a large volume 
of drug trafficking on the lower three blocks of Park South and the 
dealers appear to reside locally.

"We need them to stop living here," Flanders said. "We have children 
here. And we want to support their families' efforts to raise them in 
a safe, friendly environment."
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman