Annapolis Capital Punishment

This just in from mayoral candidate Josh Cohen. We have already published responses from Renaut, McFall and Stiverson. Hello other candidates...we are still waiting to hear from you...:

"I support a banning policy for the Housing Authority. It is a valuable tool in HACA's toolbox to keep known offenders out and to provide safe, stable neighborhoods for the vast majority of their tenants who are law abiding.

In my experience supervising offenders as a Parole and Probation Agent, I always found HACA's administration to be willing to consider exceptions on a case-by-case basis. That does not mean HACA would always grant the exception, because HACA often erred on the side of public safety. Still, in any situation where there is a blanket policy, individual situations will always arise that are borderline and sympathetic. These cases, while they may cause hardship for the individual, do not justify getting rid of the banning policy. Instead I encourage HACA to keep an open ear and to work with the resident councils to ensure that its banning policy is clear, fair and transparent and strikes the right balance between keeping the community safe while allowing for appropriate exceptions."