‘They’re human beings:’ 50 Las Cruces families lose water, heat & electricity during motel contract dispute
LAS CRUCES, New Mexico -- Dozens of paying tenants spent almost two days in Las Cruces without water, heat or electricity.
"It was really cold at night," said Patricia Gonzales, who said she has lived at the Western Inn on Picacho Avenue for 20 years.
"I prayed about it and I had hope," said Rachel Mary Watchman, who said she has lived there for three months.
Residents were caught in the middle of a contract dispute between the motel's general manager, Moigu Standing Bear, and the motel's owner, the Patel Trust.
"They're human beings," said Standing Bear. "They deserve the right to water, sewer and electricity. They're needy families."
Standing Bear told ABC-7 that the owners continue to occupy 40% of the property while he pays utilities for everyone.
"Mr. Standing Bear can't make a profit on 60 percent of the property," said his attorney, Matt Watson. "He's saying to the owners, 'You either have to pay me for the occupancy and the utilities I've been paying or I'm not going to pay you that rent payment.'"
The owners' attorney admitted that they shut off utilities on Sunday. He told ABC-7 that the owners never intended to rent out the residential portion of the property on 2155 Picacho Avenue.
"My clients would be 100% happy to take care of the situation," said Christopher Cardenas, the owners' attorney. "They are in the process of terminating Mr. Standing Bear's lease as a result of his multiple violations. As soon as Mr. Standing Bear leaves the property, my clients are going to ensure that there will be no interruption of services."
"At the end of the day, the remedy was not to turn off the heat and electricity and water and sewer to all of the 45 or 50 families who live here," Watson said. "That was not the right way to handle this in any way, shape or form."
Despite the uncertainty of the ongoing contract dispute between management and owners, residents of the Western Inn told ABC-7 they're grateful to have utilities again.
"Now, I can go on and take a shower," Gonzales said with a chuckle. "I think I need one."
