It has been six years since I read a column by Stephen Chapman in the Chicago Tribune that gave me an indication that all was not right in the world of civil asset forfeiture. It has been six years since I first introduced legislation to curb the worst abuses in those forfeiture statutes. In fact, things have arguably gotten worse. Not according to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, which recently saved from financial ruin Anthony Lombardo, the owner of Congress Pizzeria at 2033 N. Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago. No, nothing has changed.
Due process is overdue for some protection.
Civil asset forfeiture does not just impact civil liberties and property rights. It can work at total cross purposes with the professed public policy goals of our government. Both Republicans and Democrats believe it is crucial that more private investment be made in our inner cities in order to offer residents hope of a better life. Republicans may favor enterprise zones and Democrats may favor community reinvestment mandates on banks, but we both seek the same end results. There were no allegations that the hotel owners participated in any crimes.