Hoteliers are concerned about damage to their properties, the LA Times' editorial board noted, despite the fact that contracts signed through the Project Roomkey initiative require LA county to return hotels in their original conditions. The board also cited Phil Ansell, director of the county's Homeless Initiative, who noted that "concern about their reputation or image" is another factor.
"That's an unacceptable stance in this crisis," the LA Times wrote. "Hotel and motel owners should see it as their civic duty to open their doors to people who, without rooms, risk dying in this pandemic. They will be paid for three months to rent out their entire establishments, and will be able to keep their employees at work helping to maintain the properties.
"Perhaps hotel owners should look at the effect on their reputations this way: Wouldn't it be better for their image if the public knew that they'd stepped up in a crisis than if they were found to have kept their rooms empty and idled their workers?" they added.that if the number of available hotel rooms doesn't increase soon, he could call upon his emergency powers to speed up the process.
GavinNewsom it's unfortunate in a time like this humankindness is not at the forefront of lodging owners minds. In a state of emergency the government can procure private businesses under that authority to do what is best for the health, safety and welfare of its people.
They’ll be trashed
According to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, in 2019, approximately 50,000 to 60,000 persons may be found homeless on any given night in Los Angeles County, more than 44,000 of them on the streets.