PICKING ON THE POOR

I concur with Mary Mitchell [column, March 28] that the Supreme Court did a
disservice to law-abiding citizens in upholding a "one-strike" public
housing law in California. We have a similar law here: If some drug-using
relative or friend visits a public housing resident, that person can be
evicted. This decision gives the Chicago Housing Authority just the weapon
it needs, however, to depopulate any public housing structure it wants to
empty, for whatever reason. The CHA can supply a name-and-address list of
all tenants in a targeted building to some third party, and then "suggest"
that this party mail a small amount of marijuana to each resident. As the
mail is delivered, the one-strike police arrive with eviction notices in
hand. How efficient, how quick, how ludicrous! What a great way to trample
the civil rights of those least able to protect and defend themselves.

Robert D. Manewith, West Ridge