Buena Park : Tenants Form Group to Fight Eviction at Motel

Tenants of the Melody Manor Motel who were ordered to move this week when the motel lost its liability coverage are organizing to fight the eviction.

Thomas Lee, the motel’s owner, said he tried to close the motel Tuesday when the policy expired and he could not find replacement coverage.

But Joe Caux, housing program director for the Orange County Community Development Council, said tenants should receive at least one week’s notice because the motel is like an apartment house, with rooms rented by the week or month.

He said the remaining tenants have formed an association and have contacted legal aid attorneys and organizations such as his.

Some of the tenants who did move out may be “sleeping in their cars,” Caux said.

City officials and police said the motel has long been troubled with building code violations and crime. Police Sgt. Terry Branum, calling the motel a “troublesome place,” said police often respond to complaints from residents about drug activity, prostitution and domestic violence at the motel.

City building official James Sanders said that the motel has been guilty of building code violations in the past but that Lee, who bought the building Feb. 25, has been cooperating with officials and has agreed to bring the motel up to standard.