Josella, Running Motels in a Town With Lots of Housing Needs and Anger against the Poor

Josella Starbuck is a long time motel owner in Reno, a town which increasingly looks down on motel residents and the motels themselves. Politicians claim they are filled with prostitutes and drug dealers, while developers try to buy them out and bulldoze them away. But the motels have had a long and rich history, and now cater to a population with rapidly dwindling affordable housing options. Some of the questions we ask in this episode include: how does someone become a motel owner? Why do people live in your motel long term? As a motel owner are you bringing value to the community? How do you deal with angry social media comments and pressure to sell? Some answers in this episode.