In Albuquerque, New Mexico, a former shelter that catered to homeless veterans has been found to contain asbestos, in addition to human waste and other debris. City officials discovered the contaminants and garbage cluttering the Sundowner Motel on old Route 66 last week. Mere weeks ago, the Sundowner was the home of the Veterans Integration Center.

City inspectors were called to the Sundowner after repeated complaints were lodged, ranging from missing windows to broken doors to walls being ripped open to extract valuable copper piping. Inspectors found no trace of veterans or staff at the site. Instead, squatters and vandals had taken over the filthy spaces. Safe City Strike Force Director Pete Dinelli said Wednesday, "What we discovered is that there was in fact an effort to remodel it or take steps to demolish without any permits from the city." The owner of the hotel will now have 60 days to bring the property up to code.

Asbestos was found all over the site, mostly as insulation wrapped around pipes. The property owner had violated federal regulations by attempting to remodel the property without removing the asbestos. Exposure to asbestos has been conclusively linked to mesothelioma, a rare cancer that affects under 3,000 Americans every year. Mesothelioma can take decades to develop after a person is exposed to asbestos-containing materials.

Dinelli noted that the hotel had certainly seen better days, adding, "The Sundowner Motel was the place to go at one time. It was a very hopping place."

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