PUBLIC HOUSING POLICY ON DRUGS HURTS KIDS

Reporter Kris Wise's April 4 article, "Officials laud drug use policy,"
closes by quoting Charleston Housing Authority Acting Director Mark Taylor:

"I think our tenants support it because they are just as concerned with the
safety of the housing. Especially in our family developments, tenants are
trying to keep children away from these kinds of things and away from drugs."

Any educated tenant would not support this ridiculous policy of no-fault
eviction. The very children who are supposedly being protected by these
policies are the victims in the end.

Pointless and punitive drug policies create a youth-oriented black market
for the ever-popular marijuana.

When the kids who live in public housing get caught smoking a joint, their
entire family gets evicted. This is the last hope for a home for many of
these people. Turning them out on the street for a crime they didn't even
commit is completely absurd.

This policy does not protect the children or anyone living in public
housing, and in fact it only serves to undermine American constitutional
values.

Chris Hagglund

Toronto, Canada