On December 19, 2008, Mamie Singleton, 101, was issued a notice to vacate her house within five days. Under a Syracuse nuisance abatement law, she was ordered to leave her home of 45 years because her nephew, who had stayed periodically in the upstairs apartment, had used the residence to sell cocaine and marijuana.

Thankfully, Judge Anthony Aloi felt the spirit of the law would not be carried out by evicting Singleton and ordered a stay of eviction on December 23. Aloi pointed to the fact that Singleton’s nephew had been arrested for the offense nearly a year ago, and had already begun serving his sentence in jail.

An agreement was reached by the family, community leaders and police chief Gary Miguel to allow Singleton and her primary caregiver and granddaughter, Mary Reaves, to stay in their home. Under the agreement, the upstairs apartment must remain vacant for six months, and Singleton’s nephew and another man are banned from being on the property. Singleton’s niece, who was implicated in the nuisance offense, is allowed to be at the house to provide care services to Singleton during the day.