Hillcrest Motel Must Shape Up, Judge Says           Owners ordered to hire security patrol, install cameras to resolve safety issues By Laura Casey, The Tribune, June10, 2003 OAKLAND -- If owners of the Hillcrest Motel in the Dimond district want to keep their doors open, they will have to pour thousands of dollars into security systems and other improvements at the troubled lodge. An independent administrative judge handed down that decision last week after hearing testimony from City Attorney's Office representatives, neighbors and others who said the motel is a dangerous magnet for drug dealers, prostitutes and other criminals. "I think this is a victory for the community," said Councilmember Jean Quan (Dimond-Laurel). "I have been really pleased we have been able to get all the city agencies on the same page at the same time." In the next six months, hotel owners Yuming, Yufong and Kaiyoung Chou must comply with 17 specific restrictions to improve security at the motel and protect the safety of its guests. Restrictions include hiring a 24-hour security patrol, installing video surveillance, improving lighting and making significant repairs to the property. The Hillcrest owners also will have to install an advanced, computer-based guest check-in system that the Oakland Police Department had requested, and train employees to use it.. Deputy City Attorney Pelayo Llamas and Neighborhood Law Corps attorney Hali Papazian brought the case before the administrative judge last month after researching years of complaints lodged against the hotel. The 53-unit motel is a blight in the Dimond district, they said, and has been the subject of hundreds of calls to police. Neighbors cried as they told the judge about child abuse they claimed to have witnessed at the motel. One neighbor reported her fear after one of many recent fires at the building shot flames within inches of her kitchen window, she said. Many celebrated the judge's decision late last week, congratulating themselves and the city. "I feel like finally the city is doing something," said neighbor Marcel DeGross, one of several Hillcrest neighbors who have taken motel owners to small claims court in the past year and won thousands of dollars under the city's public nuisance laws. Llamas said he believes the 40 or so residents who went to testify had an impact on the judge. "I think those citizens who showed up were happy and encouraged with the government, to some degree," Llamas said. "That was really important." It took nearly a month for the hearing officer, attorney Shelley Gordon, to reach her decision. She allowed the city and the Chous time to negotiate a possible settlement, which never transpired. David L. Roth, the Chous' attorney, said his clients agreed with most of the conditions but do not want to hire 24-hour security. "I believe the amount of on-site security that is required by this decision is far in excess of what is reasonably needed, given what else we are going to be doing," Roth said. The Chous have installed video surveillance cameras on the property and have purchased the required computer software. "Given we are already doing all of that, we just don't feel it is necessary to have as much on-site security as the decision indicates," Roth said. He did not say whether the Chous will appeal. Quan said the city and neighbors will be diligent in ensuring the Chous comply with the 17 restrictions. If they fail to do so, the city could revoke their business license, she said.