[citizenK]

I understand and sympathize with the argument that neighborhoods should be free of "nuisances" like disruptive drug dealers and such. Furthermore, absentee landlords are a serious problem for many communities, especially in cities with declining populations and flight to the suburbs.

However, the approach taken here by the cops is wrong, pig-headed, and smacks of European facism circa the 1930s. Here, the cops are enlisting the property owners and members of the community to enter the fray of the drug wars, not only making them take responsibility for the (so-called criminal) actions their tennants, but doing so by using fear and coercion to threaten their very right to own the property.

A more favorable approach would be to help landlords root out undesirable tennants by helping neighbors and lanlords alike establish a record of complaint and evidence against those in the neighborhood who are continually presenting themselves as a nuisance to the community. Then, with a body of evidence and complaints against the nuisance neighbor, the police, landlords, and neighbors can petition the local court to take action against the disruptive element in their neighborhood.

It depends upon which state you live in, but renters have specific rights, including the right to privacy and freedom from intrusive snooping by the landlord. The cops in this case are encouraging landlords to spy on their tennants, and in so doing, seem to be passing the buck to the landlords. The cops say: "you fix problem, or we will confiscate your property" - and they can, just like they confiscate property in any drug related case. This is just the wrong approach to a society that advocates freedom based upon property rights. That being said, landlords need to be responsive to the complaints of neighbors and need to take some responsibility for the activities that take place on their property. Like I said before, depending upon the laws of the state granting renters specific rights, the sort of threat imposed by the police in this example is just another expansion of the questionable legal and moral practices of the nation's drug wars.

[headsonpikes]

Something like K's suggestion looks right to me.

I guess we have a slightly more reasonable brand of socialism in this regard, in B.C.

Many socialist voters are landlords here. ;^)

It's hard to believe you guys put up with all this federal meddling in rental housing. That a disturbance or nuisance is being created by a tenant ought to be sufficient grounds for eviction.