JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The people who live and stay at America’s Best Inn are still unsure of their future.
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Steve LaForm is one of the residents who was pushed from the condemned building to another building only to be evicted again last week.
“I don’t feel safe. I don’t know about anybody else around here. I don’t feel safe,” he said of the motel.
Management left notes on their doors last Thursday saying they had to be out in 24 hours, which broke Florida tenant law. Since then, no one has heard from management.
Action News Jax called and heard nothing back. Now, it’s hurting the motel.
“The place was off the chain for a couple days here with people saying, ‘Oh, you know, here we go, ain’t nobody to tell us what to do. We can just do whatever we want,” LaForm said.
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Residents like Ronnie Morell say they just want to stay at least through the time they paid.
“We paid our money so we should get a refund or at least stay the rest of the days that we paid for.”
Everyone I spoke to is looking for somewhere else to go, and many can’t find a place.
“People just ain’t got nowhere else to go. Don’t know what they’re gonna do,” LarForm said.
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Rent is not cheap at the motel. Those staying say they pay at least $1,200 a month. But even if there were homes or apartments available for a cheaper rate, people can’t get in.
“They don’t have enough money for a first and last security and make three times the rent. Some of them have felonies, some of them have evictions,” said resident Clifton Dyer, who is raising money to help the families get out of the hotel.
If they are on a fixed income, they can’t save that money by the time they have to be out.
“It would take them months to, say maybe a year, maybe two,” Dyer added.
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Safety is also an issue. Several residents say that since the doors don’t have locks, they can’t even leave the motel.
“The people who do drugs will break into my room and take my s--t if I don’t leave somebody here. None of us have keys, so we can’t just lock the door and go,” LaForm said.
This is exactly why a surprising guest has been a welcome sight and possible solution.
“He said, ‘Well, I’m security here now. I was hired by another motel,’” LaForm said.
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Residents say a security guard has been hired by another motel; one that may take the situation over.
“We’re hearing that people that were here monthly didn’t have to move. I don’t know if that’s true or not because I don’t even know who he was,” LaForm said.
Dyer heard the same.
“So, I guess they are going to … whoever the new owners are, are going to be stepping in, it seems like, right away,” he said.
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Action News Jax was unable to confirm these claims as no one from management has answered, but while the police rounds haven’t been helping the situation, many residents like Morell say the place is still unsafe.
“It’s a hell hole. A dangerous spot. You know what I mean? No place to be,” she said.
But many are planning on staying.
“Yeah, there’s a bunch of people that stayed, there’s probably about 25 or 30 families still here because they ain’t got nowhere to go,” Dyer said.