EVICT PUBLIC HOUSING ACTIVIST FOR VIOLATING LEASE, JURY SAYS

TAMPA - Activist Connie Burton should be evicted from public housing
because her 23-year-old son sold drugs there three years ago, a
Hillsborough County jury ruled Wednesday. The Tampa Housing Authority has
been trying to oust Burton since Narada Burton was arrested in April 1999
for selling marijuana to an undercover police officer in Robles Park.

"I expected it," Burton said after the trial. "We are treated wrong as
citizens of public housing. Never once did they say I did anything wrong.
Never once did they say I sold any drugs. But I have to pay."

The housing authority says Burton violated her lease under the federal
government's "one strike and you're out" drug policy for low-income housing
complexes. The policy allows landlords to evict a tenant if any member of
the household, or a guest, is caught with illegal drugs - even if the
tenant was unaware of the crime.

The Tampa Housing Authority has evicted about 50 residents under the policy
since it went into effect in 1996. Burton's case is the first to go to trial.

Burton, president of the Robles Park tenant's association, says the policy
"punishes the wrong people," and that her eviction was retaliation because
she criticizes the housing authority at public meetings and on her call-in
show on WMNF, 88.5 FM.

Burton, who has lived in the apartment rent-free, has fought eviction in
court for three years. She challenged the constitutionality of the law in
federal court, but U.S. District Court Judge Richard Lazzara in 2000 ruled
the law was constitutional. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the law in March.

Many of Burton's 60 supporters cried as the verdict was read.

"This reinforces my belief that our government is unjust," said Njemile
Zakiya, Burton's friend.

The central point in the housing authority's case against Burton was
whether her son lived with her when he was arrested in April 1999. Burton
testified he had not lived with her since 1997.

Narada Burton's ex-girlfriend testified Wednesday that he lived with her
until after his arrest. However, attorneys for the housing authority say he
was listed on his mother's lease. Narada Burton was convicted in the
marijuana case and sentenced to 20 months in jail.

But Burton testified that housing authority employees coerced her into
adding her son back to her lease in 1998 when they told her they would fire
him if she didn't. He was enrolled in an employment program that required
participants to live in Robles Park.

Guy Burns, Burton's attorney, said he represented six women whose sons were
also arrested for drugs. They were allowed to stay, he told the jury. Burns
said Burton may appeal the verdict.

When Burton returned to her apartment Wednesday, about 10 people filled her
living room, asking her how to run the tenants association without her.

"What good has this done?" Loraine Wright said. "Now you've got angry,
frustrated people with no leadership. This ain't gonna get the drugs out."

Frazier Carraway, attorney for the housing authority, said Burton might
have to move out today. Jerome Ryans, executive director of the housing
authority, is expected to make a decision this week.

Burton said she has no money and no place to go.

"I'm homeless," she said. "This is the validation [the authority] has been
looking for; this is validation for them to kick more people out.

"But I won't leave quietly. The housing authority won't make me stop
fighting for the people in Robles Park."