'ONE STRIKE' EVICTIONS ARE PATENTLY UNFAIR

The Supreme Court would do well to strike down Housing and Urban
Development 's "one-strike drug policy" evicting entire families for the
indiscretions of a single member, whether on or off HUD property.

The mere idea that a tenant would have implicit knowledge of the current,
future, or consequential actions or intentions of every member of their
family or visitors to the residence strains reality. To be certain, there
are times when things are self-evident. Otherwise, to have such intimate
knowledge would require a godly stature.

During medieval times it was common for entire families to be punished for
the crimes of a single member. But our justice system is based primarily on
protecting the innocent, even if the guilty are sometimes set free. That
standard should not be lowered, even in publicly funded housing projects.

Moreover such zero-intelligence, zero-tolerance policies do nothing to
reduce drug use or demand. Displacing drug users and drug addicts to the
streets only serves to increase and disburse crime, exacerbate the problem
of addiction, and hamper the ability of social services to reach those most
in need of treatment, counseling, educational services, and job training.

HUD's rule serves no purpose other than to allow politicos to appear to be
"tough on drugs" while accomplishing little more than relocating drug users
to other parts of the city.

JIM WHITE

Oregon