Ferguson Opposing County's Efforts to Bring Back Social Services Programs to Former EconoLodge

The Chautauqua County Department of Social Services is attempting to return programs for homeless people to a couple of hotels in the county that closed earlier this year. One of them is the former EconoLodge on Bennett Road in Fredonia, which is reopening under a new name, according to Mayor Mike Ferguson. During Tuesday's Fredonia Village Board meeting, Ferguson said he will fight again to keep DSS programming from the facility, which was evacuated in the spring...

Mike Ferguson: expressed strong resistance

Ferguson says he's not opposed to temporarily housing homeless people; his concern is about how safe the building is...

Mike Ferguson: don't want them living in disgust

In a Facebook post Wednesday night, Ferguson clarified that he didn't want criminals being put in hotels where women and children were seeking protection and safety. Ferguson adds he has been working with two local churches on potential Code Blue shelters for the cold weather months. The other location the county is eyeing for the return of DSS programs is the Clarion Pointe Hotel on Route 60 just north of Jamestown.

File photo; audio from Fredonia Access