ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Albuquerque City Councilors are cracking down on problematic motels and hotels, but some councilors are warning that the changes could hurt the homeless. “We continually say that we don’t like seeing unhoused people on our streets, but now we’re saying if they somehow scrape up enough money to stay in a hotel for a night or two… We don’t want them to be there either, and I think that’s a large problem with this bill,” said City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn.
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Changes to the city’s Hotel and Motel Accountability Ordinance would require motels to collect photo IDs and current addresses from all guests if the motel or hotel continues to violate city code. Under the new rules, hotels and motels that repeatedly violate the Nuisance Abatement Ordinance will need to start logging guest stays. Failure to comply can result in a fine of $500 per day.
Councilors in favor said the goal is to crack down on crime and hold owners accountable, but others worry the rules unfairly impact the homeless. “We need to help the victims, and with the victims not coming forward, they’re probably being threatened, which is also an issue. So those are the kinds of things that we need to have IDs for, those are the things police need to be talked to about,” said Councilor Louie Sanchez.
The city passed the new law on a 5-4 vote, with multiple councilors changing their votes last minute…