Source: When Calling 911 Makes You a ‘Nuisance’ and Gets You Evicted – The New York Times
I had heard of this sort of thing involving night clubs and drinking establishments that had repeat incidents of violent crime and drug use. I never knew it could be applied to individuals seeking help for mental illness or domestic abuse. In some cities it’s two strikes and you’re out if you have legitimate reason to call law enforcement to your residence more than once a year. The “suggestion” that property owners pursue nuisance abatement procedures is Orwellian as hell in that it actually comes from from law enforcement and city lawyers. It is certainly a more complicated issue than can be summarized in an Op-Ed piece but I fail to see what law enforcement or the city stand to gain by increasing the homeless population and driving unstable people to the brink of despair.
BYT on Nuisance Abatement
The NY Times article does not mention New York but these stories do, showing that some steps appear to be taken to prevent abuse of this law enforcement technique, which is utilized almost entirely in black and Hispanic neighborhoods.
Daily News:
- City Council moves to scale back NYPD’s use of nuisance law to close homes and businesses
- NYPD shows openness to compromise on nuisance abatement reform at City Council hearing
ProPublica:
