Scott’s Blog Experience

Ok, somehow you knew I couldn’t stay away from this one.

The new city ordinance approved Tuesday that cracks down on property owners who lease to tenants who allow illegal drug activity to occur on their property is a good one, and I do support it, however there a few issues.

“This new ordinance does not target landlords,” 3rd District Councilman Bob Manning said. “What it does is target drug houses.”

According to the ordinance the “Police” will determine who or what is a drug house. And, according to the Journal Star, the new ordance requires property owners who are given notice that drug activity has occurred on their premises, to begin eviction proceedings of the tenants responsible or otherwise “close down the property” and abate the nuisance. What the heck is “otherwise”? Non-tenants? Some questions:

1) Does this mean PHA will now be evicting half of the tenants that have come down from Chicago who are now dealing drugs in PHA homes? After the Police has determined it’s a drug house ofcourse.

2) How much you wanna bet no PHA homes ever get tagged by the Police as being “Drug Rentals”.

3) Does this mean the Peoria Police Deptarment can now declare the House that has 5 PIT BULLS that block the front door, all kinds of cars going in and out, and crack baggies in the front yard, a drug house? And why weren’t they doing that before? OH, yea, no money in it for the City, sorry, forgot.

4) Will there now be a database list of the tenant who has been evicted on this new ordinace available to landlords so they don’t rent to the same person? duhhh

And this phrase makes no sense to me: “The plan allows Peoria police to determine when a violation has occurred whenever lawfully obtained evidence is available. An arrest is not required before action can take place.” Umm no arrest? What do you mean NO ARRESTS? Why wouldn’t there be an arrest if they were doing drugs? It’s that kind of verbage in a City Ordanice that makes me worried. Who declares its a drug house when no arrests for drugs are made? Second District Councilwoman Barbara Van Auken said the police will not rely on “gossip” or “unreliable sources” to gain evidence. Well, if no arrests are made how are they gonna declare it a drug house?

Well, all I can say is if it doesn’t target Lanlords and just drug houses the PHA is in for some real trouble. My second thought is….why did the Peoria Police Department need an ordinance ($$$$$) to kick people out of a suspected drug house in the first place? I think that is called an arrest.

I hope this works, I always hate to see government getting to involved how I deal with my own business, but we do have a real problem in Peoria, and lots of slumlords who don’t care, something needs to be done.

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