[IVY]

US NY: Buffalo To Fine Landlords Who Tolerate Drug Use



BUFFALO TO FINE LANDLORDS WHO TOLERATE DRUG USE

BUFFALO - Police officials and three city judges announced a new get-tough policy aimed at Buffalo landlords who tolerate drug activity.

Owners will receive a registered letter when a drug arrest is made at a residential property, officials said. If an owner fails to start eviction proceedings within 10 days, city officials will take the case to court. That could lead to eviction, as well as a $5,000 fine for the owner.

Deputy Police Commissioner Robert Chella said eight people were recently arrested at four houses following complains of drug dealing from neighbors. The next morning, the suspects were back in the houses. "It frustrates the community because they think a problem is gone once we make the arrests, he said.

The legal basis is the Bawdy House Law dating back to the early 1900s that was used to close brothels. It allows a landlord to evict a tenant involved in an illegal activity. If the landlord fails to act then other parties may demand eviction.

"I think in many instances there's a fear factor involved with many of the land lords," City Judge James McLeod said.

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n758/a03.html
Newshawk: Larry Seguin http://www.reconsider.org/
Votes: 0
Pubdate: Mon, 09 May 2005
Source: Watertown Daily Times (NY)
Copyright: 2005 Watertown Daily Times
Contact: letters@wdt.net
Website: http://www.wdt.net
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/792
Section: State briefs

[IVY]

This makes no sense to me...
so even if the landlord had nooooooooothing to do with it.. he still gets screwed?