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opinion:
our view
Supreme Court
decision targets poor
In baseball, three strikes and you're out. In life, one strike
is all you get, that is, if the U.S. Supreme Court is playing
umpire.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last week that people living
in public housing can be evicted for drug activity by any
household member or guest. A whole family can be evicted for
a first-time offense by any one member of that family, even
if that person is blocks way from the housing area.
This is all in an effort by Congress to improve the quality
of life in public housing areas by zeroing in on drugs and
crime. Chief Justice William Rehnquist was the impetus behind
the "one strike eviction policy." Rehnquist believes
the policy will put all tenants on notice they can be removed
if they do not prevent drug use by their family members. It
also protects law-abiding families from crime and violence
in the projects, he said.
Apparently, drug use and other crimes only occur in low-income
housing projects. It seems that Congress, which unanimously
passed the strict policy, is just further dividing the gap
between the rich and poor in this country. Somehow, the government
continues to lead us to believe that the rich are rolling
in their clean money, while the poor use old $1 bills to snort
cocaine.
So why are the poor being targeted? Because they can be. We
believe that the high court's decision is prejudicial and
unfair to those living in low-income housing. We are not condoning
illegal activity among rich or poor, but if such a policy
will be so strictly enforced, it should be done to span all
levels of income.
The policy as it stands will force entire families onto the
street. So if the teenage granddaughter is caught smoking
a joint in the parking lot adjacent to her grandma's home,
grandma could be thrown out onto the street. Yes, parents
should know where their children are, but no, they can not
monitor their every move.
Those living in low-income housing are already in an unfortunate
situation. But we believe the Supreme Court's decision is
only further punishing the tenants. People using drugs, regardless
of stature, will not get any better by getting evicted. If
anything, putting them out on the streets will only further
perpetuate the cycle of drug use and crime.
Why not provide money for drug treatment recovery and treatment
programs in low-income housing? The one-strike policy is not
the solution to winning the war on drugs. But sadly enough,
the country believes that for the poor, the game is over.
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