State Motel Legislation

I support programs that protect the poor, especially those working hard to transition from homelessness into stable housing. I'm glad the governor is looking out for those whose housing situation is fragile.

I hope, now that these individuals are being taken care of, that action can also be taken to protect neighborhoods around Aurora from the criminal behavior associated with many of these motels. The absentee owners of low-rent motels like the Italia, Isabella, and Fremont Inn allow virtually anything to go on in their establishments without any regard for the safety and cleanliness of our neighborhoods.

Since moving to upper Fremont, I've learned first hand that these motels harbor criminals, many with outstanding warrants, who engage in drug activity and prostitution in our neighborhoods. "Guests" of these motels trash nearby property, create an unsafe environment at night, and attract other criminals who are seeking prostitutes and drugs to our neighborhoods.

This activity is on the rise, too. Incidents ranging from criminal trespassing, home and car break-ins, drug sales, and prostitution are a daily topic of neighborhood watch emails in the upper Fremont area (Aurora Ave between N. 40th and N. 46th) and they are a direct result of individuals who occupy these motels.

I applaud the decision to assist those in need. Now I won't feel bad when the motels in this area get shut down and we get our neighborhoods back.

P.S., your link to House Bill 1663 doesn't work.

We have been working for over four years here in Upper Fremont, both east and west of Aurora and in cooperation with FAWN, to press these motels to more responsible action. We've worked to get better city ordinances to encourage motels to be better neighbors, and better hosts for the guests who need this kind of low cost housing. Our pressure actually resulted in the sale of one of them, and some marginal improvement. We track and report incidents when we see them.

With FAWN, we do a regular walk to report graffiti, burnt-out street lights and other problems, and we partner with them on neighborhood cleanup. We've worked on traffic issues. We sponsor community-building events such as Seattle Night Out and emergency preparedness training.

Contact us through our blog at http://saferfremont.blogspot.com/

FAWN is great; I should have mentioned the work that FAWN and the blockwatch do. I know things would be much worse around here without these efforts. Linda, I'm sure we've met because I used to walk with you guys before I had a conflict with the day/time.

Unfortunately despite our best efforts, FAWN and the daily neighborhood emails and phone calls to the police haven't pressured or shamed Dean and Jill Inman, who own the local low-rent motels, into any action at all. They continue to allow their businesses to serve as home-base to drug dealers, pimps, and prostitutes. It's my opinion that these motels need to be shut down permanently and the owners held to account in order for things to really change for the better.

It's a disgrace that Motel operators are allowed to create these cess pools of crime. I operate a restaurant next to the Seattle Motor Inn, and in the 3 years that Dean and Jill Inman have operated the motel, it has become a magnet for gangs, drug dealers, prosititutes and pimps. The police are called to the motel on a daily basis to keep the peace.
The incidents of car breakins, vandelism and burglaries are on the increase. It's time to shut down these motels of crime, once and for all.

I have been hearing great things abut FAWN. As I work in these neighborhoods I can now assist in the effort and make reports etc. I am going to update my community through my site at Window replacement in Seattle.

We just bought a South Boston Hotel that was ran down because of this.

We are hoping to send a message that we can have a better looking city if people just help.