More Input On Motels

Hey Joe,

I didn't want to post this in comments because my computer automatically posts with my name on comments. When I was a kid, my mom got into a marriage with a bad person and as a result, we ended up leaving him with absolutely no notice or money. She changed jobs, and we basically went into hiding. We were literally homeless for awhile, and we were one of those people who live in motels. My mom is an honest and good person, and she worked her ass off to better our place in life and to get her feet back on solid ground.

The reason I mention that is that you're right--these people who are getting "flushed out" are humans and they do have rights and needs. However, I would imagine that if we went back into that time and place where it was me and my mom sleeping in a motel room, if there were a "raid" in an effort to flush out the druggies and prostitutes from where we were staying, I'd imagine that she would be grateful that the city was making an effort to get those types of people away from me.

And as for those long-term residents that "can't" get a place to live otherwise, I just don't believe it. A good and honest person who wants a better life for themselves and their family has got to know that there is a way to live better than a motel room. My mom did it just driving a cab. That's it. Within a few months of losing her footing in life, we were back in a nicer, permanent place to live, and we never had a problem after that.

There are also so many programs out there to help people have a home. There's section 8 housing, affordable housing, temporary cash assistance, food stamps, amongst other things to make it possible to survive. All of these things are easy to apply for. If someone wants a better life than a motel room, they can get it. The help is there and quite easily attainable.

So when I don't have sympathy for those who were inconvenienced by the "raid" last night, my lack of sympathy comes from the point of view of the child that lives in one of those rooms with their single, working mom trying to make a better life for both of them. That child deserves to not have a meth lab or a prostitute right next door making money in dishonest and disgusting ways that put the safety of people around them in danger.

I applaud the city in their efforts to help clean up the streets and the motels that line them. I think we would all find a warmer, fuzzier feeling in our stomachs about it if we could know what will happen next. How about instead of tossing these "professionals" and junkies in jail and then back on the street, we try to rehabilitate them. Get them jobs, put them in programs to detox them, and help them find their way to a better life. Some people will do well in a program like that, some wont.....but at least we can say we tried everything before we turn our backs on them.

Just my thoughts!