Evictions Linked to Drug Law

Gardena residents who deal drugs in rented apartments or houses may be evicted by their landlords under an urgency ordinance passed Tuesday by the City Council.

Following the lead of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, which passed a similar ordinance in March, 1989, the council voted 4 to 0 in favor of the measure. Councilman Paul Tsukahara was absent.

The Gardena ordinance, which is effective immediately, permits landlords to evict tenants for selling drugs on property owned by the landlord. A landlord would be required to seek eviction of such tenants once requested to do so by the Police Department, the district attorney or the city attorney. Landlords failing to seek eviction of drug-dealing tenants within 60 days may be fined as much as $5,000.

City Manager Kenneth Landau said the ordinance was not aimed at drug problems in specific areas of the city, but was intended as a tool for law enforcement officials to combat drug trafficking citywide.