On September 29, the St. Louis County Council will consider the final passage of bill affecting a residential rental property licensing code.
Blog by Jeffrey Mittman, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri
The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri is deeply troubled that St. Louis County Council members may not have considered the full ramifications of amending a nuisance-type law that could end up evicting victims of domestic violence or prevent them from calling the police.*
Chapter 825 contains provisions that would harm victims of assault, stalking, harassment and domestic violence, and encourage landlords to evict the victim to avoid license suspension. It would disproportionately impact female tenants and crime victims under the guise of a “nuisance” law.
No one needing protection should ever fear eviction if they call the police.
The ACLU strongly opposes Substitute Bill Number 1 and advises the county council to vote against this measure. We will monitor the council's vote and any enforcement of the provisions, if they pass.
*Gretchen Arnold, an assistant professor of Women and Gender Studies at St. Louis University, is co-author of “Silencing Women’s Voices: Nuisance Property Laws and Battered Women,” which references the dangers of the City of St. Louis’ nuisance property law that was enacted in 1996. This is included in her affidavit in Nancy Markham v. City of Surprise.