Dennis Saffran

Many poor people live in public housing projects subsidized by the federal government. Because these projects are often the site of drug dealing, gang violence, and other crimes, new policies have been enacted that make it easier to screen out and evict residents who engage in criminal activities. In the following viewpoint, Dennis Saffran argues that these policies are necessary in order to allow impoverished, law-abiding families to reside in public housing without the fear of living amid criminals. Saffran is the New York director of the Center for the Community Interest and the former general counsel of the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What does the "innocent grandmother" argument ignore, according to Saffran?
2. Why is it ineffective to evict just the criminal...