QUALITY OF LIFE

In a sensible ruling that should help to make conditions in public housing
much more tolerable, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a zero-tolerance drug
policy covering federally subsidized complexes.

The ruling lets stand a 1998 law that gives local housing authorities the
discretion to evict a tenant for the drug-related activity of household
members and guests, even if it was unclear that the tenant knew of the
illegal activity.

The no-excuses policy, in some instances, may appear to be overly tough on
parents, grandparents or other lease holders who are evicted as a result of
crimes committed by delinquent family members or guests in their homes. In
fact, they are responsible for reining in younger family members in their care.

This is a quality of life issue for the residents of the many public
housing projects in Worcester and other communities in Central
Massachusetts. Tenants have a right to expect to live in a safe, decent,
drug-free and crime-free environment.

The Supreme Court properly has given top priority to the well-being of
public-housing tenants, responsibility and the rule of law.