Thankfully, the new Democratic majority in Olympia, while notably lacking in progressive (or even vaguely liberal) legislation, has also lacked a lot of the whacked-out, terrifying right wing social legislation that marred the last two sessions. Anti-abortion bills, gay-bashing, and other Christian Coalition specialties are scarce in Olympia so far.

Unfortunately, one species of bad bill hasn't gone away: idiotic tough-on-crime legislation. The Republicans got the blame last time around for deluging the state books with so many bad new laws that even the cops were begging them to stop (and they refused!). But curtailing civil liberties and targeting black youth in the name of public safety is a bipartisan effort, as evidenced by a horrendous new bill sponsored by--among others--the oh-so-liberal Adam Kline of the city's ethnically diverse 37th District.

The "Gang and Abatement of Homes Law" (SB 5158, HB 1655) uses the public's fear of gangs--and all youth of color--to add some dangerous new provisions to an already-abused law, the Drug and Abatement of Homes Law. That's the lucrative scam that allows authorities to seize (and steal or sell at a profit) private property thought to be associated with drug trafficking, without bothering with legal niceties like a trial and proof of guilt. Some of the money from these abatements goes directly to the police department involved, which is effectively a commission for seizing property without a trial.

Kline's nightmare is an incredibly broad addendum to that law which would allow courts to seize the homes and/or businesses of property owners who allow so-called gang members or gang activity on their property. In the hands of a Mark Sidran, you can imagine whose businesses would be shut down. But it gets worse. A "gang" is defined by the bill as "a group of three or more persons with an identifiable leadership and/or identifiable name, sign, or symbol, and on an on-going basis, conspires and acts in concert mainly for criminal purposes." Under the bill, a "gang member" can be identified as such by admitting he/she is a gang member, by being identified as a gang member by two or more snit--er, "reliable sources," by being in the company of known gang members (that's right, guilt by association), or by being listed as a gang member in law enforcement documents (guilt by suspicion of guilt).

The law would increase the common police tactic of "profiling" youth and people of color. It defines "gang" so broadly as to include almost anyone who has friends. It allows forfeiture on the basis of who your friends are or who is "allowed" on your property. It is, in short, the kind of law used in a police state. It is an instrument of terror.

Contact your Olympia legislators and urge their opposition. As for Kline, maybe Dawn Mason had a point with her implicit campaign insinuation last year that a white man has no business representing such an ethnically diverse district. Not this white man, at any rate.