Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott send Letter to Bottoms over Homeless intimidating guests (Atlanta: hotels, maintenance)

[Forhall]

https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/dow...lers/969159006

The managers said their guests are regularly being intimidated especially near Hardy Ivy Park, Mayors Park and Courtland Street.

Some of the complaints in the letter included:

[Atlanta Scientist]

The hotels can contribute money and build some more facilities for the homeless.

[ATLTJL]

One of the complaints says guests were panhandled in a hotel lobby.

I mean.... that's really the hotel's job to secure. That's private property, and if they are having that problem, they should really hire their own private security forces and prosecute uninvited guests who trespass on their property and harass guests.

But I also agree the city should do more to curb panhandling. You can't, and shouldn't, stop people from silently holding cups or signs asking for money. But anybody who aggressively panhandles or intimidates a person should be jailed.

Also, I can't believe between three managers of some of the city's most prominent hotels, nobody knew how to spell "complaint."

[Chengdu Nanhai]

Originally Posted by Atlanta Scientist

The hotels can contribute money and build some more facilities for the homeless.

That is all well and good, but the responsibility of taking care of the homeless lies squarely on the city government, not on the hotels.

[arjay57]

From what I've read here, these wimpy hotel guests need to mentally toughen up and recognize they are in an urban setting. Walk with confidence, keep your head on a swivel and don't let it be known that you may have valuables.

[jero23]

Originally Posted by Chengdu Nanhai

That is all well and good, but the responsibility of taking care of the homeless lies squarely on the city government, not on the hotels.

Yes and no. The maintenance of the public right of way is the responsibility of the local government, i.e. the City of Atlanta, but the responsibility of the care and welfare of the homeless is not entirely on the City of Atlanta. That responsibility is a combination of Atlanta, Fulton County, and the State of Georgia. The maintenance of the private property lies with the property owners, i.e. the hotels and their operators.

It's not as cut and dry as you make it be. The lines are very undefined because the Georgia state constitution is very vague on the welfare of the least amongst us (the people).

[ATLTJL]

I think the hotels should hire security because they have business interests at stake.

But really, it's the city's responsibility to enforce existing laws. If you murder someone in at hotel lobby, it's still APD's problem, not the hotel's. Same thing here, if these panhandlers are threatening people, they are violating the law and therefore subject to prosecution under the jurisdiction of Atlanta police.

[ronricks]

Originally Posted by Atlanta Scientist

The hotels can contribute money and build some more facilities for the homeless.

Yeah that is the responsibility of Hotels in Atlanta.

[JC84]

Originally Posted by arjay57

From what I've read here, these wimpy hotel guests need to mentally toughen up and recognize they are in an urban setting. Walk with confidence, keep your head on a swivel and don't let it be known that you may have valuables.

shifting the problem to victim blaming isn't the move

[jsvh]

Think I am deciding we need to have a backstop to end homelessness. We need to make trespassing / loitering / sleeping on public property an accelerating misdemeanor offense. First violation $200 or 24 hours in jail. Next violation goes to a week in jail, then a month.

These people sleeping on the streets are doing no one any good. We at least need to get them sheltered and provided with food, water, and basic medical care even if it is in prison. On release they should be connected with non-profits and other organizations that can help them / provide them housing options outside of jail. But clearly those organizations are not cutting it on their own.

We got to have some backstop for the people on are streets that are unable or unwilling to find other options.