BILL TARGETS DRUG-HOUSE OWNERS

Neighbors Could File Suit To End Dealing

Neighborhood groups and private citizens would be able to sue property
owners and landlords to oust drug dealers, if lawmakers approve a bill
unveiled Tuesday.

Sen. Patricia Blevins, Elsmere, is the lead sponsor of the
legislation, which she hopes to have assigned to a committee within
the next two weeks.

Blevins said she thinks the bill will pass easily.

"This has strong bipartisan support in both houses," she said. "This
isn't just a problem in the inner city. It also is a problem in the
suburbs and in rural areas. It affects almost every
neighborhood."

Under the bill, neighbors of a suspected drug house as well as the
attorney general's office would be able to file suit in superior court.

If the suit is successful, the court could issue orders:

Temporarily or permanently closing the building, evicting its
drug-using tenants or revoking its business or liquor licenses.
Barring building owners or tenants from permitting drug-related
activities and issuing civil contempt orders against people who ignore
the decree. Requiring building repairs. Allowing the state to seize
and sell the property.

Among the bill's co-sponsors are Sen. Margaret Henry, D-Wilmington
East, House Majority Leader Wayne Smith, R-Clair Manor, Rep. Helene
Keeley, D-Wilmington South, and Rep. William Oberle Jr., R-Beechers
Lot.

Attorney General M. Jane Brady said the bill is modeled on a New York
City statute and on federal law. She said she is confident it will
withstand a court challenge.

The bill requires that three or more drug deals have taken place on a
property, with one of the actions leading to criminal prosecution,
before a suit can be filed.

Keeley said the bill would have a powerful effect, especially on
absentee landlords.

"This will give us a tool against landlords, who pretend not to know
drug activities are taking place on their property when we know
they've been notified by the police," Keeley said. "This will help the
people take back their neighborhoods."

Property owners targeted by the suits would be able to end proceedings
by donating the properties to nonprofit groups, such as Habitat for
Humanity.

"That's one of the neat things about this bill," Brady said. "It
allows property owners to get out from under these actions by donating
property to groups that want to rebuild the community and give people
who might not be able to afford it a chance for home ownership."

The Rev. R.W. Coleman of Dover's Mount Zion AME Church said giving
citizens the ability to take action will put pressure on landlords and
criminals.

"We the people know who these people are," he said. "This is something
we can do besides running down to the police station every time
something happens so we can take these illegal activities off our
streets and make our neighborhoods safer."