As the mayor’s gavel was about to adjourn the meeting, a group of about 15 residents of an illegal boarding house, some of whom were in tears, stood before City Council and begged for a chance to stay in their home.
The group included the rooming house’s landlord, Ike Lewis, who was recently ordered by Judge Tammy Stokes, chief judge of Recorder’s Court, to shut down nine boarding houses in early August, with about 200 residents living in them.
By his side to offer support was Alicia Blakely, president of the Savannah chapter of the National Action Network.
“It would be a tragedy to enforce laws that would put these people out,” Blakely said. “The only alternative they have is to go out to the woodline.”
Alderman John Hall said that Lewis was a “weak” man who didn’t deserve to be defended.
“He has drained these people,” Hall said. “The time came for him to put up or shut up and he ran to you.”
Lewis does not own the properties, but instead signs a lease agreement and then rents what are supposed to be single-family homes to the tenants for about $125 a week — unbeknownst to the owner, said Assistant City Attorney Lester Johnson.
Lewis has been running such homes for about 13 years and been to court on multiple occasions over the issue, Johnson said. The court recently decided to start taking action and ridding the city of such dangerous living quarters, he said.
“This case is long overdue,” Johnson said.
But what to do with the people? That was the question suddenly posed to a City Council caught off guard. The mayor and aldermen were sympathetic to their plight, but also aware of the danger they faced remaining in a house deemed unfit for their habitation.
Alderman Estella Shabazz pleaded with city staff to try to work out a solution that would help the home become compliant and allow the residents to remain there.
Others expressed concerns about the residents’ safety if they were allowed to stay and about the surrounding community members who often complain about such rooming houses. They acknowledged their inability to defy a court order or desire to do so.
City Manager Stephanie Cutter assured the council that staff would work with the residents and make sure they do not end up living in the streets.
“We have had people displaced before,” Cutter said. “We have never left them to fight that battle alone.”