The receiver will step in as the property owner with full control of the property, and the receiver will hire contractors to bring the building up to code, city officials announced in a news release. [View the court document here.]
“We are pleased with the court’s decisions in these matters,” stated Palmdale City Attorney Matthew Ditzhazy. “We are confident that the receiver will promptly bring this property up to the community’s standards so that it may once again provide safe lodging to those visiting Palmdale.”
The court order described the property as “substandard, constitutes a public nuisance and is being maintained in a manner that violates state and local laws… the building violations are so extensive and of such a nature that the health and safety of residents, neighbors and the public is substantially endangered…creates an immediate danger and risk of irreparable harm to occupants, residents, employees, nearby school children, the local community and public.”
In addition to the building code violations identified by city building officials, the Sheriff’s Department had responded to at least 50 instances of unlawful drug activity and made dozens of drug-related arrests for the unlawful storage, keeping, selling, and use of methamphetamine, morphine, cocaine and marijuana, among a multitude of other crimes since 2013.
The complaint by the city also noted the increased danger to the neighborhood caused by the presence of illicit drug users and dealers, in addition to the numerous other public nuisance conditions related to the use and sale of illegal drugs, such as increased crime, including attempted murder, assault, domestic violence, robbery, vandalism, and theft.
In 2016 alone, there were more thsn 400 hundred calls to the Sheriff’s Department from incidents stemming from the Palmdale Inn.
“Valuable police resources were drained by this property due to the constant police attention it required,” Ditzhazy said. “The surrounding neighborhood, as well as the greater community, were negatively impacted by the Palmdale Inn. That is no longer the case. This action will not only make this property safer for those customers who stay in the hotel, but it also removes a magnet for drug use and criminal activity in our city.”
In a related story, United States District Court Judge, the Honorable Michael W. Fitzgerald, dismissed Palmdale Inn owner William Herrera’s requests for injunctive and declaratory relief in a related civil rights case against the city. The court also stayed any claims for alleged damages until after the conclusion of the State Court action and any appeal thereof. [View the court document here.]
“These two court victories will really accelerate the rehabilitation of this property,” Ditzhazy said. “The city is looking forward to having this property placed back into service.”
[Information via news release from the city of Palmdale.]
Previous related stories:
Complain filed against Palmdale Inn to abate public nuisance
Palmdale Inn issued notice to vacate
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Sabbi M says
If Malhi’s kept their hotel like this I’m afraid to eat at their restaurants. Eww.
troll hunter says
Palmdale Inn owner William Herrera
Tim Scott says
Not like the former owners; Mahli; kept it any differently.
Thomas says
Maybe Rex can help them by sending Chinese and “the gays” over to the hotel to lower the crime and raise the education level.
https://news.vice.com/story/a-california-mayor-hopes-china-will-save-his-town-from-meth-labs-and-neo-nazis
William says
Why don’t we send rex to China instead?
Patewack says
They should just bull doze it down
Sam says
If I were visiting Palmdale…I would’t stay anywhere east of the freeway!
Tim Scott says
Is there anywhere to stay that is east of the freeway? The Palmdale Inn might not be the only really old motel left in what was the ‘motel strip’ of Palmdale Blvd a few decades ago, but there can’t be very many. Too many nice places opened up over there north of the mall.
Raul says
I have spent many nights east of the freeway. No problems. Now that this craphole hotel is closed, it can only get better.
Shane Falco says
That place was notorious twenty years ago for drugs and crime because all those neighborhoods north and south of palmdale Boulevard were full of crime and drugs and now gang members.
That hotel was a symptom…not the problem.
Matt K. says
…that’s because your hometown, Santa Clarita, won’t take it’s fair share of low-income residents, but instead wants to pass the buck to the cities in the Antelope Valley and make it their problem.
ABCs says
Owned by Lancaster councilman Raj Mahli and family.
Lancaster. What a city. Ruins Quartz Hill with a Super Walmart. Destroys Antelope Acres with ugly solar farms. Sues Santa Clarita, Highland, and Palmdale for voting districts they refuse to implement themselves. Oks pot growing to the horror and dismay of the churches who keep these morons in power.
Lancaster. The gift that keeps giving.
Forriss Elliott says
We nerd nice places to live for short periods of time so as soon ad this is restored everybody will be happy let’s get the drugs away !
Slumlords R Us says
There are plenty of places on Sierra Highway that can assist you.
CAP'N LANCASTER says
That Dumps been nothin but trouble for Years an Years. Back when it was Mahlis I done took me a Hooker there for a Little This an a Little That. The Hooker done give me Crabs an Mahlis done give me Bed Bugs an Cockroaches. It was more like a Nature Adventure than a Roll in the Sack
Sue M. says
“Plaintiffs allege that Mahli allowed crime to flourish at the motel, and allowed the
property to deteriorate physically over time” .Maybe the plaintiffs should sue Mahli. Maybe the people of Palmdale could join in on a class action lawsuit and sue Mahli, Parris, Crist, Mercy, Hall, and the rest of the Lancaster mob who regularly sue, interfere, badmouth, sabotage, and open skanky businesses like this drug infested flophouse.
Loyal to Palmdale says
Now that Council Members Bishop and Hofbauer are owned by the Lancaster Mob the word on the street is they are going after the Palmdale City Attorney for threatening to go after the family of Lancaster Council Member Raj Mahli. His family owned and ran this motel into the ground and walked away like they did with the former Palmdale restaurant they quit making their lease payments on. Bishop and Hofbauer have become the mouthpieces of the Lancaster Mob plain and simple. They both should move to Lancaster as that is who they represent. So sad they are now owned by the Lancaster Mob.
TiredOfIdiots says
Wow, that is corruption at its finest. Hofbauer and Bishop need to go. I hope Palmdale wakes up before it’s too late.
LC says
Bishop and Hofbauer will do anything to protect their fellow Lancaster Councilman Raj Mahli. Lancaster controlled people stick together.
Walt says
Thank goodness that dump is closed. It has been an eyesore and hazard to the community since it was Mahli’s Inn. Good riddance.
Laughing says
Raze it and start over.
Laughing Jr says
Yes, so Ledford can get a kickback from the contractor.