By Scott Tibbs, October 31, 2016
Here is where a well intended law goes off the rails: A law to reduce urban blight and hold people accountable for allowing criminal activity in their home or business is being abused (naturally) to unfairly and illegally evict people from their homes or harass, intimidate and blackmail business owners.
Now, let's not be too cynical here. There were probably very rational arguments for this law made in good faith back in the crime-plagued 1970's, to reduce blight and give police more tools to fight crime. This is especially true in New York City. But here is the problem: When you give government dramatically expanded power, it will be abused. It is not that this power might or could be abused. It will be abused every single time.
This is because the men and women who run government (including the police!) are just like everyone else who has ever lived on this planet: They are totally depraved sinners, in bondage to their sin. This is why many Christians are conservatives or libertarians, because people who understand Scripture also understand sin nature and the inevitability that unrestrained power will be abused.
This nation's founding fathers understood our sin nature, which is obvious with the restrictions they put on government in the Constitution of these United States. The founders knew that when people have power, it will never be enough. They will always want more.
Well intended or not, this was always bad law because it allows people to lose their homes or business without due process. This should not be winding its way through the judicial system. Instead, it should be repealed. Defending a bad law is a waste of time and money.
