President of the Northeast Los Angeles Hotel Owners Association and friend of AAHOA, Ray Patel, has been vocal against a measure that would require Los Angeles hotels to issue vouchers to unhoused residents for vacant hotel rooms.
Earlier this month, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously voted to place the ordinance before voters in the primary election on March 5, 2024. Patel, and many hotel owners, have compassion for individuals experiencing homelessness, but he doesn’t believe this ordinance is the solution.
As the owner of the Welcome Inn located in the Los Angeles area, Patel is concerned with the language found in the ordinance. “We don’t know who will be liable if someone is injured. We don’t know who is liable for any room damages,” Patel said.
Patel is also unsure if the voucher is for one night, multiple nights, or extended stays.
Liability questions and length of stay are not the only concerns. Hotel owners are left unclear on how to address social services, such as mental health or addiction, should an unhoused resident need assistance, putting to question the safety of hotel guests and staff.
AAHOA Members own more than half of all hotels in California, and hotel guests staying at member-owned hotels spend $45.5 billion in the state, demonstrating the significant travel-related economic impact and job creation.
AAHOA thanks Patel for using his voice to express the concern of many hotel owners in Los Angeles and for helping Angelenos understand the detrimental impacts of this ordinance.
Original source can be found here.
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