Pubdate: Tue, 19 Jul 2005
Source: Herald-Dispatch, The (Huntington, WV)
Copyright: 2005 The Herald-Dispatch
Contact:  http://www.hdonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1454
Author: Dolores J. Wallace

WITH DRUG TRADE, TOO MANY LOOK OTHER WAY

This is a reply to a recent column concerning the seizure of property from 
landlords who rent to drug dealers.

There are other ways to do background checks on potential renters other 
than the magistrates' office. It can be done on the Internet, by public 
records and having the renter sign a release of information to check 
his/her background. If he/she does not sign, don't rent. Also, there is 
eviction.

It's always better if someone else can be blamed. The police never have 
been and never will be the answer to the drug problem. The answer is in the 
people - their beliefs, hearts and minds. The drug problem is so bad 
because too many people have looked the other way for far too long.

As a landlord, you reap the monetary benefits from owning property, and 
along with this ownership comes responsibility to the neighbors and the 
community not to rent to drug dealers. It's only the threat of losing money 
and property that caused this landlord to speak out.

His comparison of this type of property seizure to the property seizure of 
the Jews in Nazi Germany is absurd. These people lost not only their 
property, but all their possessions, money, livelihood, for no reason whatever.

Six million Jews lost their lives because too many people looked the other way.

Dolores J. Wallace

Huntington
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom