What's Yours Is Theirs: A homeowner challenges Philadelphia's abusive civil forfeiture law.

Wall Street Journal ^ | 09/06/2014

[SeekAndFind]

Cities have tried all sorts of measures to raise money to shore up their budgets: Chicago sold its parking meters, Detroit considered selling its art collection. In Philadelphia the government is confiscating the private property of its residents.

Under civil forfeiture laws, police can seize and sell private property whether or not the target is convicted of a crime. In the City of Brotherly Confiscation, police and prosecutors have run a forfeiture program that took in $64 million between 2002 and 2012, more than Brooklyn and Los Angeles combined.

For Christos and Markela Sourovelis, the civil seizure program is threatening to take their family home as punishment for a minor drug offense. In May 2014 the Sourovelis's 22-year-old son Yanni was arrested for selling $40 of illegal drugs. He pleaded guilty and was sent to a "diversion" program for first-time offenders, but because he was living at home police seized the house and evicted the family. The Sourovelises have since been allowed to move back in pending the outcome of the forfeiture proceeding, on condition they kick out their son.

[ChildOfThe60s]

[Pontiac]

While cities that run forfeiture programs typically give property owners the chance to appear in court before a judge, Philadelphia offers only room 478 at City Hall, where prosecutors sit in lieu of judge and jury.

Twenty percent of the Philadelphia District Attorney's office general budget comes from the forfeiture kitty, and over the past decade some $25 million has been used to pay the DA's office salaries.

To me this makes the forfeiture theft under the color of law.

These attorneys know that their pay their raises and their very jobs depend on seizing the property of citizens.

[SeekAndFind]

I’m afraid you’ll have to militarize yourself to do that.

These thugs have more firepower unfortunately.

[BenLurkin]

Are there any Robespierres in Philly?

[House Atreides]

It is theft and nothing more. It’s meant to feed the greedy hungers of the government overlords.

[ChildOfThe60s]

Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare in which a small group of combatants such as armed civilians or irregulars use military tactics including ambushes, sabotage, raids, petty warfare, hit-and-run tactics, and mobility to fight a larger and less-mobile traditional military.

I have wonder if this is the future of our country, particularly the cities.

[Engedi]

Awww....couldn’t happen to a better city....I bet these fools voted, let me guess “Democrat”....

[Bryanw92]

>>Awww....couldn’t happen to a better city....I bet these fools voted, let me guess “Democrat”....

The bad part of that is that the Democrat politicians can stand up and say, “We don’t want to do this, but the Do-Nothing Republicans in Congress are making us by not fully funding the programs that we need to make this city thrive.”

And the Dems will all say “Amen”.

[from occupied ga]

I'm sure our friends and stalwart defenders of the Bill of Rights, the police, failed to enforce this blatantly unconstitutional measure.

Can you hear the jackbootlickers on FR saying, "but they're on our side?"

[sergeantdave]

“I have wonder if this is the future of our country...”

Probably not. After 75% of the military deserts and returns to their states, raiding all the federal armories as they move, the federal government will rapidly fall apart as the remaining thugs loot the treasury, the federal offices, museums and art galleries.

I happened to be working as a contractor for several Israeli companies when the Libyan civil war broke out. What I described above is exactly what happened when Kaddhafi ordered his army to shoot Libyan civilians. Here’s what happened to Kaddhafi and his fascist government goons.

WARNING!!! GRAPHIC VIDEO!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aDsjvTFRQw

The killing of Kaddhafi’s Mercenary African thugs who carried out the murder of numerous Libyans..

WARNING!!! GRAPHIC VIDEO!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=domty1qVInc&bpctr=1410050565

[E. Pluribus Unum]

There has to be a law somewhere that can be used to turn the tables on them and confiscate government property and the paychecks of government employees.

[Secret Agent Man]

pre-emption of federal 4th Amendment.

[HiTech RedNeck]

It is an old sad story. The house is guilty, destroy it... well that might actually be fairer because then the institutional thieves would be denied the benefit.

[Svartalfiar]

Probably not. After 75% of the military deserts and returns to their states, raiding all the federal armories as they move, the federal government will rapidly fall apart as the remaining thugs loot the treasury, the federal offices, museums and art galleries.Not to mention the Guard armories all over, which will likely be quickly pillaged, and the few that actually remain organized will likely fall under the conservative states.

[zeugma]

There has to be a law somewhere that can be used to turn the tables on them and confiscate government property and the paychecks of government employees.

Yes there is. It is called the law of unintended consequences.

If this were to happen to me, people would die.