Tenants of red-tagged El Centro hotel upset, confused
EL CENTRO — Frustrated tenants of the Roberta Hotel in El Centro, ordered shut down by the city for alleged code violations, gathered outside the dwelling late Wednesday morning and complained they remain in the dark about where they can move to avoid becoming homeless.
“I don’t understand why they didn’t give us more notice. They’re making more homeless,” said resident Janea Martinez. “They are about to unleash a lot of disabled mentally ill into this city. About 98 percent here are (county) Behavioral Health (clients). I got one guy who doesn’t even know what’s going on.”
The lone good news were reports a badged woman from an agency the residents could not identify knocked on doors Wednesday morning and said the required departure time had been delayed from Wednesday night to Thursday morning.
The building at 465 W. State that residents say may house up to 60, was “red-tagged” by a city building official Tuesday morning. Police officers went door to door stating the building would have to be vacated by Wednesday evening, residents said.
After efforts to get comment on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning were unsuccessful, the City Manager’s Office issued an email on the matter Wednesday afternoon. It stated city police and fire officials conducted a scheduled inspection Tuesday and determined the building was unsafe to be occupied.
“The city has coordinated with the county of Imperial and other local agencies to provide assistance to those tenants affected by this situation,” the email stated and placed that number at 22.
It also stated tenants are “encouraged” to contact the Inland Fair Housing and Mediation Board at 444 S. Eighth St. in El Centro or call them at (760) 482-5773. It describes the agency as a mediator for rental disputes.
County public information officer Gilbert Rebollar did not immediately respond to a request Wednesday for more detailed information on the county’s involvement.
Tenants, meanwhile, said a mobile office, possibly from county Social Services, was on site Tuesday and early Wednesday taking information from them.
“They asked if we had Behavioral Health (services) or income. They didn’t say ‘Come here because you’re paying rent.’ There’s been no real help. I’m hoping for a call, but if not, I’m homeless,” Martinez said.
“What am I supposed to do, put my stuff in an alley?” she said.
Added tenant Rhonda Sobehrad, “They (the staff in the mobile office) said they’d put us on a list, but they don’t know anything.”
Tenant Henry Poston said he was fortunate that the local charity Spread the Love had found him housing at the Motel 6 in El Centro and would pay half of it.
“I already had people helping me, but others don’t,” he lamented.
Ana Norris, a case manager for Adjoin Veterans, said she was there on Wednesday morning because the county Veterans Services office informed her there might be at least one veteran at the property at risk of being homeless. She, too, said she had questions about the situation and would need time to find housing.
Residents complained the man who has been managing the property has not offered to return the remainder of the $750 November rent they paid.
“I feel really mad. I gave my money in good faith and he won’t give it back. I can’t afford that,” Sobehrad said.
The owner of the property is identified as Kaushikbhai Patel of 356 Fourth Ave. in Yuma, according to Imperial County Assessor’s Office records. He is not listed as owning any other properties in the county.
A notice from the city posted on the building’s front door that orders it vacated was directed to Kris Patel. It was signed by Frank Soto, a city building official.
The notice stated the city first contacted Patel on Oct. 14 regarding code violations. The building was being ordered vacated because a Nov. 15 inspection revealed they had not been remedied. Besides code violations, the notice added, “There have also been numerous police calls to the property for drug sale and/or usage of drugs, transient issues, and weapon related offenses.”
Tenants said the problems are not with them but with the homeless that come in because the lobby of the two-floor building is not locked or monitored. Patel has made efforts to make repairs but has been unable to keep up with them, Martinez said.
On Wednesday morning tenants said he had been at the property earlier but was not at that time. Martinez said she feels it is Patel’s responsibility to help her find a new place to live.
“I’m gonna stay here until they give me somewhere to go. I’ll stay with him,” she said of what her plans are as the building closure time nears. “But I went from a tent to this. Looks like I’m going back to a tent.”