Marriott Settles Debro's Lawsuit  Hotel denied him a room
“because  of how he looked,” during a blizzard, called police,
sent him to a homeless shelter By Tasion Kwamilele Joe Debro, a
prominent Oakland businessman and builder who also serves as the
Chair of the Housing Assistance Council, a $60 million dollar
organization, was denied housing at Washington’s Marriott Hotel,
just a stone’s throw from the White House. The Marriott staff
told Debro there was no room in their inn because he did not
look the part. Even though the hotel employees saw Debro’s
suitcase and plane ticket, they summoned the police who gave
Debro two options, go to jail or go to a homeless shelter. Debro
chose to spend the night in a homeless shelter. When Debro
arrived in Washington, D.C., in the middle of a snow blizzard,
after a late-night “redeye” flight from Oakland, he could not
find a taxi. Wearing only a knit cap, a white t-shirt, and an
overcoat, Debro rode the subway and walked five blocks to the
hotel.  Debro said the Marriott