Letter: CDC vs. landlords. If director has that much power over private citizens, there’s a problem. – The Augusta Chronicle

Steve Donohue| North Augusta

Last month the CDC director extended her order banning evictions for most tenants who cannot pay rent due to COVID. Think about that, an unelected federal employee directing a private citizen to hand over her property rights to a third person, without compensation. Yes, the rent is still due, but what do you think the chances are renters will have six to nine month's of rent for the landlord when the moratorium ends?

Let's agree that landlords are not a sympathetic lot. And yes, no one wants destitute people thrown out on the street because COVID cost them their livelihood. Notice the CDC doesn't compensate property owners for the loss of rent. Landlords must still pay taxes, maintenance, utilities, and mortgages, yet the CDC has cut off the rent money to pay those expenses. The ultimate irony the landlord could be foreclosed by the bank for nonpayment but the renter of the other have of her duplex could not be evicted.

Under federal regulation, 42 CFR 70.2, if the director determines the states have not done enough to stop the spread of a communicable disease she may take reasonable measures to stop the spread including inspection, fumigation, disinfection, sanitation, pest extermination, and destruction of animals or articles believed to be sources of infection. There is nothing about property owners, renters, or evictions. If the director has that much power over private citizens across the nation, then we have a serious problem.

If the federal government wants to take private property to stop the spread of communicable disease, then compensate the property owners as required by the fifth amendment, to wit: (no) private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. The ends may be justified, but the means are not.

Steve Donohue, North Augusta

MORE:Moratorium hasn't stopped many in Augusta from eviction

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Letter: CDC vs. landlords. If director has that much power over private citizens, there's a problem. - The Augusta Chronicle