An open letter to Petaluma Mayor and City Council
Members
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As
published
in
the Petaluma Argus Courier
August, 2002 |
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Preserve
rent control laws
By Marcelle Evie Guy
Some time ago, a
couple
who managed a mobile home park in Huntington Beach were arrested and
charged with elder abuse. The case revolved around an alleged
transaction between the couple and a recently widowed elderly
resident. The alleged transaction was about a $45,000 mobile home
which the couple claimed they negotiated the purchase for $4,500 cash
from the elderly widow. In addition to a fine, they were
sentenced to a three-year probation period during which time they
cannot have any dealings with mobile home parks or
engage in any activity involving the elderly.
Unfortunately, elder abuse such as the above case is not always found
out and punished because the people involved are unscrupulously
clever, people without conscience who use up a lot of time
looking for
easy money. These people prey on the most vulnerable. Those
most easily intimidated.
Who is more vulnerable than an elderly person living alone?
Well, imagine a senior mobile home park where many residents are
elderly, living alone and no family to look after their best
interests.
Sandalwood, the senior mobile home park off McDowell Boulevard in
Petaluma, has always been affordable housing for senior citizens.
The residents own
their homes but pay rent on the land. Last August, two
gentlemen from Southern California, Bill Feeney and Patrick
Smith, entered into a 55-year contract for the lease of the park.
At their first meeting with the residents it was clear that these
gentlemen had no concern for the lives they were about to
destroy. The residents from age 55 to late 90's, some who have
been living at Sandalwood since the park was built in 1964, listened to
these gentlemen with great anxiety. The new owners clearly stated
their intention to raise the rent to $600 per month as quickly as
possible (more than double for most).
That evening residents of Sandalwood went home devastated. Many
in tears. Most spent sleepless nights worrying, wondering
what to do, where to go. Where do you go if you are 85,
unable to work and about to lose your home?
In their convertible Lexus and BMW, Mr. Feeney and Mr. Smith made a
grand entrance into Sandalwood Mobile Home Park. They
demonstrated their authority and without doubt, they expected
Sandalwood residents to be easily intimidated by their
ruses.
Sandalwood is a wonderful and friendly little community where everyone
looks after each other. Soon we began to see this community rise,
organize, ready for a fight. Leaders took control and
worked hours, days, and months to learn the laws, talking to
politicians, to lawyers, raising money to fight these abuses.
Yes, some
gave up. (It is alleged that $55,000 homes were bought by
Feeney and Smith for $10,000.)
Feeney and Smith tried to raise the rent more than 100% in Sandalwood
and on May 9, 2002 An arbitration decision made by Leland Dibble,
Arbitrator, denied Feeney and Smith their request to raise the
rent for more than 6%, what is allowed by city Ordinance Section
6.50.040A.
Feeney and Smith, angry at the decision, are appealing the ruling and
are suing the City of
Petaluma, claiming bias by Arbitrator, Leland Dibble. They lament
they are denied a "fair rate of return" on their investment. They
claim that by denying them the requested rent increase, the residents
are taking from them! ! !
Now, they are the victims, so they claim.
Mr. Mayor, Members of the City Council, you must remember, Mr. Feeney
and Mr. Smith are sophisticated business persons (as Mr. Dibble justly
stated in Findings
of Fact). They knew when they acquired Sandalwood that the
park was affordable housing for senior citizens. (They
told me so, personally, when I posed the question to them at a meeting
in front of several other residents).
As stated by Mr. Dibble, page 7, Article 4, Decision "the
current owners appear to have overpaid in terms of lease payment for
the property, and thus the tenants cannot be burdened with that
miscalculations." Feeney and Smith are NOT victims
here. Feeney and Smith saw a gold mine in
Sandalwood. They saw
green everywhere but they never looked at the people. They
never gave a damn about the people. In my opinion, their
acquisition of the park was a calculated act of greed and total
disrespect for humanity.
Feeney and Smith
made a
mistake and we should not be made to pay for their mistake. We
must keep Sandalwood affordable housing for senior citizens.
Mr. Mayor, Members of the City Council, it is your duty to fight this
lawsuit aggressively to preserve the rent control laws. This is
not only about Sandalwood. It is about decency. It is about
fairness. It is about doing what is right. "Sophisticated
business persons," should not be allowed to intimidate, take advantage
of or take away from the elderly to make their fortune.
(Marcelle
Evie Guy is an office manager for a local small business
and a resident of Sandalwood Mobile Home Park in Petaluma.)
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Credit
The painting used
for this set is by artist,
Penny Parker.
The background,
graphics and layout compliment of:
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Note:
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This website,
PetalumaSandalwood.com, has no affiliation with Sandalwood Estates,
LLC. This is a personal website and the information published and
opinions expressed are those of the
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Content subject to change without
notice.
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