Chicago Housing Authority to require drug tests for residents of Lake Parc Place

The CHA has long pre-qualified applicants for admission to some of the renovated public housing projects by applying a financial needs test.

More recently, tenants were paired with mentors so that tenants might learn requisite housekeeping skills.

With all due respect to my cousin--Caroline Fredrickson-- who heads the ACLU legislative initiative in Washington, the CHA might justify tenant drug screening as a safety concern. The manufacture & use of many illicit drugs requires the use of hazardous chemistry & flames.

Essentially, drug screening proponents might argue that while it's okay to have drugs in their bloostream, it's verboten to consume said drugs without jeopardizing the personal safety of fellow tenants & CHA property.

Call it my Merchant of Venice argument.

I welcome opposing counsel's arguments.