Woman who hosted shot-up block party evicted
Well ain’t that a kick in the head. From the Miami Herald:
Two weeks after an Overtown birthday celebration ended with a shooting that claimed the lives of a young woman and a teenage boy, the home that was packed with partygoers is now empty. A black doormat was the only trace left of Juliette McClain after her eviction Friday from the Culmer Place public housing development. The party — held for her son, Lawrence Smith — was sufficient reason to kick her out of her Overtown duplex, Miami-Dade County officials said. According to records, the Miami-Dade Public Housing Agency gave McClain, 49, until midnight Friday to leave the duplex in the 500 block of Northwest Fifth Avenue. ”Criminal activity” and ”drug and alcohol abuse” during the July 5 party at her home violated the lease agreement, according to a letter from the agency. The violations justify her eviction, according to the agency’s crime reduction coordinator, Jeffrey Gorley.
”We have a zero tolerance policy in public housing,” he said. “If you violate the law or your lease, you could be evicted.” McClain could not be reached for comment.
About 200 people, mostly teens, attended the birthday block party held for McClain’s son. The crowd filled nearby streets, setting off fireworks, downing drinks and listening to a disc jockey’s booming rap music. Shortly after midnight, three men dressed in black began shooting AK-47s and pistols, hitting teens, homes and cars. The gunmen fled, leaving behind 12 shooting victims and a woman who was hurt when a car hit her as she tried to run. Two of those shot did not survive.
According to the Herald, some neighbors signed a petition attempting to allow McClain to stay in her apartment. Others said her eviction was justified, and called the block party the largest they’d seen in years. (Plus, it was foolishly advertised on Myspace.) One of the petition signers made what is perhaps the most profound point of all, and she probably didn’t even know it:
Juanita Williams, who lives down the block from McClain’s empty residence, was one of many in the neighborhood who signed a petition attempting to keep McClain from losing her home. ”I think it’s unfair,” Williams said. “What did she do? She didn’t know it was going to happen. I don’t think she’s too much to blame.” But even Williams admits the party was too wild for her 17-year-old church-going daughter, Deandra. The high school student was invited but stayed home.
The party later claimed the life of her eighth grade prom date, Anthony.
Well there you go.
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Rules are rules. If you live in public housing and you break them, you’re out. two people are dead. eviction is a small price to pay.