ZERO-TOLERANCE POLICY PROTECTS OTHER TENANTS

I was not aware of the zero-tolerance policy in public housing, but I
certainly applaud it. Do I feel sorry for a single mother of four who is
evicted? Yes, especially for the three innocent children. But I also feel
she did not pay enough attention to her 16-year-old son, or she would have
seen some sort of problem. Parents do not have to keep their children "on a
leash" to know that they are hanging with the wrong crowd. She should take
responsibility for what has happened, rather than blame the Housing Authority.

Just because her son was arrested in another apartment, does that make him
less a criminal? Would she have felt that the Housing Authority was
justified in its eviction if her son had been arrested in her home? I am
appalled at the fact that this is being called a racial issue. It is not a
racial issue, it is an illegal drug issue. The teen had 10 bags of crack
cocaine and a bag of marijuana.

How about the other tenants, or the innocent children who live in the
apartments along with those in possession of drugs? Ignorance of a policy
is no excuse.

Cheryl Ann Freiermuth
Cheektowaga