Drug-Related Death Near ETHS is Emotional for Alderman

Drug houses are nothing new to Evanston, but the recent death of a woman found unresponsive at a residence on Dodge Avenue is a bit harder to swallow for one city alderman.

That’s because the death of the 31-year-old last Saturday came in such a close proximity to Evanston Township High School, 2nd Ward Ald. Peter Braithwaite says.

“We deal with drug houses all the time,” Braithwaite is quoted in the Daily Northwestern. “What bothers me and has me emotional is that this young lady died in close proximity to a high school.”

Braithwaite said the drug house issue is not new to the city, whch passed an ordinance regarding “nuisance premises” in 2007. But that needs an update, Braithwaite said.

“(Council) wrote the ordinance back in 2007 and I can’t tell you how many times we’ve used it, but we need to really address it so our staff can be more aggressive,” he said. “Through the ordinance we can make landlords more responsible. If they have some financial stake, we should have the ability to fine them and that will drive them to be more responsible with their property.”

more via the Daily Northwestern