MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, Mich. — A deadly shooting at a hotel in Muskegon Heights two nights ago at the Clarion hotel just off of Seaway is inspiring some to take action.
That hotel sits right across the street from Phyllis Loudermill’s hotel, Mona Lake Inn at Lots Landing.
A place she is fighting to clean up, in an effort to prevent crime from happening at the hotels in Muskegon Heights.
“The change is, we became a community,” hotel owner Phyllis Loudermill said.
A hotel association, to be exact. The first of its kind in recent history in Muskegon Heights. City Manager Troy Bell says this is the start of change.
“To begin to work together, in addressing the issues of crime, address the issues of drugs and drug trafficking. It is a problem. The only way we’re going to be able to fix that problem is working together,” city manager Troy Bell said.
A specific detective is now assigned to the hotels in Muskegon Heights, and they’re working with the police department to help fight crime there as well.
Phyllis says she welcomes all people looking to make a positive change in their lives who are willing to hold themselves to a higher standard.
“There are people from different races. Different backgrounds. People that actually work for a living, that are having a hard time. People that are wanting a second chance. They’re here,” Loudermill said.
Loudermill says the changes begin and end with having high standards for guest behavior, regardless of where they are financially and she's encouraging her neighbors to do the same.
“If I can get the same concept from here to there, we may not have what happened two nights ago. So I’m asking my neighbors to join in with this. They have said yes. We’ve been meeting about collaborating about rules,” Loudermill said.
She says these changes take time. But with the amount of people on board, she's confident that change is coming sooner rather than later.
“I want them to know they’re safe. That’s the first thing. I want them to know they’re welcome. I think the bar has to be risen. Because people just assume, that it’s on Mona Lake on this side, That we’re not prissily and classy people. But we are,” Loudermill said.
