This Burlington man got EVICTED for calling the police too many times – and now he’s throwing the American legal system right back at the city bureaucrats who tossed him to the curb.
At a Glance
- Joe Montagno, a vulnerable Burlington resident, was evicted after making 42 police calls in 2015 – that’s fewer than four calls per month
- The ACLU of Vermont is supporting Montagno’s lawsuit against the city, documenting how officials pressured his landlord to evict him
- Nationwide, “nuisance ordinances” are forcing tenants to choose between their safety and keeping their homes
- An investigation found over 2,000 cases where renters faced eviction under “crime-free housing” policies – 1,300 involved only misdemeanors or non-criminal offenses
- 29 U.S. senators have raised concerns that these policies disproportionately impact vulnerable populations, especially domestic violence victims
When Calling 911 Gets You Homeless
In a development that would make our Founding Fathers roll over in their graves, Americans across the country are finding themselves kicked to the curb for the “crime” of seeking police protection. Burlington resident Joe Montagno discovered this harsh reality when he was labeled a “public nuisance” and evicted from his apartment simply for calling the police when he felt threatened. His supposed offense? Making 42 police calls in 2015 – that’s a whopping 3.5 calls per month, folks. Because apparently in today’s America, exercising your right to protection is a privilege you can only use in moderation.
The Government’s Twisted Logic
Here’s where it gets really rich – Montagno wasn’t making these calls for fun. According to the lawsuit filed by the ACLU of Vermont, he faced legitimate threats and was even assaulted by a neighbor. The situation was serious enough that a court issued an order against this neighbor. But instead of addressing the actual criminal behavior, city officials decided their priority was pressuring Montagno’s landlord to evict him for being too “high maintenance.” Because apparently, protecting citizens is just too much work for the government employees whose salaries we pay with our tax dollars.
“My clients are not social workers, psychiatrists or anything else; nor can we station an armed guard in the building at all times.” – David Greenberg.
The landlord’s attorney, David Greenberg, hit the nail on the head when describing the impossible situation property owners face. They’re expected to manage tenants with complex issues while the government shifts responsibility. Meanwhile, the city’s lawyer, Pietro Lynn, has the audacity to argue that the lawsuit “lacks merit” and denies any First Amendment violations. Apparently, being punished for asking for help from public servants doesn’t qualify as government overreach in his book.
A Nationwide Assault on Constitutional Rights
Montagno’s case isn’t some isolated incident. It’s part of a disturbing nationwide trend revealed by an investigation by The New York Times and The Illinois Answers Project. They uncovered over 2,000 cases across just 25 Illinois cities where renters were deemed in violation of so-called “crime-free housing ordinances.” The kicker? More than 1,300 of these cases involved only misdemeanors or non-criminal offenses. So much for innocent until proven guilty – these days you can lose your home for simply being accused of a minor infraction.
Take Catherine Lang’s case – she was evicted after being charged with driving drunk, despite later being found not guilty. Let that sink in. She lost her home for a crime she didn’t commit. This is the twisted reality of “crime-free housing” policies that supposedly aim to enhance neighborhood safety. Under the guise of creating “better communities,” local governments are trampling all over citizens’ basic rights, destroying lives, and creating a class of people whose constitutional protections apparently come with an asterisk.
Creating a Fear-Based Housing System
The most outrageous aspect of these nuisance ordinances is how they disproportionately harm the most vulnerable Americans. A letter from 29 U.S. senators to HUD Secretary Julian Castro highlighted that crime victims – especially women facing domestic violence – are being punished for seeking help. When nine out of ten homeless women have experienced severe abuse, these policies aren’t just cruel – they’re perpetuating cycles of violence by forcing victims to choose between enduring abuse in silence or becoming homeless.
This is government overreach at its most insidious. While the left wrings its hands about “compassion” and “equity,” they’re simultaneously supporting policies that punish victims for seeking help and create a two-tiered justice system. The message is clear: if you’re poor enough to rent, your constitutional rights are conditional. The next time a progressive lectures you about “privilege,” remind them about Americans getting evicted for calling 911 while their attackers face zero consequences. That’s the real systemic injustice we should be talking about.
