Babylon Town Supervisor Steve Bellone introduced a bill Thursday that would allow the town to evict renters from homes and apartments as part of an effort to clear the area of criminals.

Bellone said gang activities, drugs and prostitution exist unchecked in many of the town's rental units. He said landlords often look the other way.

"It's not the problem that they're unaware," Bellone said. "The problem is that they don't care. They don't care about their property or their neighbors. All they care about is the mighty dollar."

Landlords and the district attorney's office currently hold the right to start eviction proceedings. Bellone's law would allow the town to do the same, including identical burden of proof provisions.

Uzo Akujuo of the Coalition of Landlords, Tenants, Homeowners and Merchants Inc. is opposed to the measure. Making the landlord responsible for his tenants would put pressure on him to violate a renter's privacy.

"When you rent property, you're not expecting the landlord is going to be sneaking around to find out what you're doing," Akujuo said.