EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Under a judge’s order, residents of the Gateway Hotel have until 10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 12 to vacate the building. Local non-government organizations were outside the premises helping the tenants on Wednesday with relocation assistance.
“We are going to be assisting around 60 individuals. We are going to provide them shelter, food, and we’re going to connect them to services that are available in the community,” said a spokesperson with the Opportunity Center for the Homeless, Araceli Lazcano.
The need for new homes comes after District Court Judge Maria Salas-Mendoza signed a 90-day temporary injunction on Sept. 9.
The County Attorney’s Office wants to shut down the hotel, alleging that it is a public nuisance and a hotbed of criminal activity and illegal drug use.
Former resident and employee of the Gateway Hotel, Joe Lassich, told KTSM the building had been going down hill for decades, saying he expected a shutdown to happen sooner or later due to the number of health code violations he saw.
“When I used to rent rooms for people, the people will come in that will give them the key. They’ll go up to the room and the first single time there’s bedbugs. And I be like, you know, there’s no refund,” Lassich said.
The allegations in the lawsuit filed against the hotel go past bed bugs. According to court documents, there have been multiple law enforcement run-ins with the Venezuela-based gang, Tren de Aragua.
The hotel is alleged to be a “common nuisance” and a place where “habitual” criminal activity happens, according to a lawsuit against the hotel filed by the State of Texas and the County Attorney’s Office.
The County Attorney’s Office says it is not seeking to close down the hotel because it has been taken over by a specific gang or criminal organization, however.
Lassich said the real victims in this battle between the hotel owners and County are the long-term residents who are trying to put a roof over their heads.
“The ones who are suffering right now are the residents that have been here for a long time. You know, that’s my concern,” he said.
“Many of the individuals don’t understand exactly what is going on but we are here just to let them know that there are resources and that we have a space available for them in our local shelters,” said Lazcano, with the Opportunity Center.
Lazcano said volunteers will also be outside the hotel on eviction day, Sept. 12, to continue helping displaced individuals.
There will be a hearing on a permanent injunction on Dec. 9, according to the judge’s order.
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