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Petaluma
Sandalwood Estates Mourning
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 He who learns must suffer. And even in our sleep pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God. - Aeschylus (525-456 BC) FYI:Aeschylus was Robert F. Kennedy favorite poet. This above line from Aeschylus was quoted by Robert F. Kennedy in the speech when he announced the death of Martin Luther King. Read the entire speech here |
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During
my
yearly visit with my doctor last November, I was stressed and
tearful. I did not tell my doctor what was going on in my life
but
I told him that I was not very happy in my home and I did not
want to talk about it or I would never stop crying. My blood
pressure was up to 84/184. I am normally a healthy person working
full-time and never had any problem with high blood pressure.
I
don't think
there is anything more stressful than the fear of losing your home,
specially for seniors and elderly. We want to live independently
as long as we possibly can. But the fear of losing my home the past year and the accumulated stress soon after moving into
Sandalwood Estates, was
now taking such
a toll on me. But,
I am surviving.
The vice-president of our local Golden State Manufactured Home League, Chapter 128, Irene Feil, did not survive. Just a few weeks after going through very stressful arbitration process with park management, Irene had a massive stroke on April 27, 2007 and died thirty hours later. Sandalwood Estates The Story |
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Footprints
in the Sand
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One night she had a dream. She dreamed she was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the dark sky flashed scenes from her life. For each scene, she noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one beloning to her and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of her life flashed before her, she looked back at the footprints in the sand. She noticed that many times along the path of her life there was only one set of footprints. She also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in her life. This bothered her and she questioned the Lord about it. "Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me." The Lord replied "My precious, precious child, I love you and would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffereing, when you see only one set of footprints in the sand, it was then that I carried you." |
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Can
Stress Kill You?
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By Marcelle Guy
During
my
yearly visit with my doctor last November, I was stressed and
tearful. I did not tell my doctor what was going on in my life
but
I told him that I was not very happy in my home and I did not
want to talk about it or I would never stop crying. My blood
pressure was up to 84/184. I am normally a healthy person working
full-time and never had any problem with high blood pressure.
I don't think there is anything more stressful than the fear of losing your home, specially for seniors and elderly. We want to live independently as long as we possibly can. But the fear of losing my home the past year and the accumulated stress soon after moving into Sandalwood Estates, was now taking such a toll on me. As
I
fought to keep my home, I learned so much. For example,
the City of Petaluma Rent Control: Business Regulation and Licenses,
Title 6, Chapter 6.50 Retaliation: Article 6.50.140, states: "No
owner may retaliate against a tenant or tenant-to-be for the tenant's
or tenant-to-be's assertion or exercise of rights under this chapter in
any manner, including but not limited to, threatening to bring or
bringing an action to recover possession of a mobilehome space;
engaging
in any form of harassment that causes a tenant to quit the premises;
dissuades a tenant-to-be from freely exercising his or her legal
options
to choose a month-to-month rental; decreasing housing services;
increasing
the space rent; or imposing or increasing a security deposit or any
other charge payable by a tenant. The tenants have a right to organize
a tenants association without hindrance from the park owner to exercise
the rights provided under the provisions of this ordinance.
For full article go here: City of Petaluma Rent Control: Business Regulation and Licenses, Title 6 (Use your back button to return to this page) The State of California also enacted laws to protect tenants against retaliatory actions of landlords. Specifically, Civil Code section 1942.5. California Civil Code section 1942.5 (Use your back button to return to this page) Further,
as recognized by the
courts, statutory (CC § 1942.5) and common law restrictions
against "retaliatory eviction" apply to mobilehome park tenants, even
one subject to the MRL.
Thus, park management cannot terminate a mobilehome tenancy in
retaliation against the exercise of lawful tenant rights. [Rich v.
Schwab (1998) 63 CA4th 803, 813-814, 75 CR2d 170, 174-175.]
At the first meeting with the homeowners, Feeney and Smith told us that they will raise the rent to $600 a month. But what they really wanted, was to have everyone be on a long term lease. If we did not sign a long term lease, they will take us to arbitration year after year. And they did just that. Those who wanted to remain under the protection of rent control and refused to sign long term leases were punished by going through arbitration year after year. If that is not retaliation, I don't know what is. A wheelchair bound woman complained that her home was damaged by ground shifting when large trees were pulled out next to her home to make room for a much larger home. When several attempts to get satisfaction on her claim failed, she began receiving notices to tidy up her yard or pay a fine. I believe this was in retaliation for making a complaint. On
November 29, 2005, I told Betty's story on my web site. (Click Here and Meet Betty
) That began a series of incidents that resulted to my
receiving a notice to conform to park rules and regulations.
Had not I seen an attorney to preserve my rights, I probably would
have lost my home.
If that is not retaliation, I don't know what is. I shopped for a manufactured home comparable to those that replace older homes in our park. The retail price to replace my home is $149,000. Everything is included except landscape. According to these figures Sandalwood Estates, LLC makes at least $100,000 for each older home they replace with new ones. Plus they collect approximately $250 more per month for additional rent. We have approximately 60 new homes in the park. They want more. I think they want our homes pretty bad and we are not dying fast enough. Do I think that they intentionally stress the elderly in hope to get our homes sooner? I believe they do. They tried to shut me down and I refused to be intimidated so they went after what was most precious to me and brought me down to my knees. Why don't I move? When I moved in, I intended this to be my home forever. I figure I would lose approximately $60,000 or more if I tried to sell my home and move out. Where would I go? In 2003, Joseph Smith, an attorney for the homeowners at Sandalwood Estates, said in a newspaper interview: "The park owners either need to be criminally indicted or have a civil lawsuit brought against them for elder abuse and unfair business practices. A lot of tenants will die, move out of the park and the Bay Area. Several have had strokes during the arbitration process. Someone has to intervene. I cannot do it alone." STRESS
CAN KILL YOU
And I think Irene Feil is an illustration of that. How many of us have to die before these people are brought to justice? Someone has to intervene. I cannot do it alone. The city of Petaluma Mayor and
Council Members have always been very
supportive of us here in Sandalwood Estates right from the beginning
in 2001, when Feeney and Smith took over the park and began harassing
seniors and elderly with their "long term leases" and threats of
arbitration
if we did not sign into it. Along with our local GSMOL Chapter,
(Golden State Manufactured-Home Owners League), lead by Bill Donahue,
they have saved many residents' homes.
With that acknowledgment in
mind and with much gratefulness for the
past efforts and results, I think we must look into our situation more
aggressively and take the lead to end these abuses of power.
Every one of us, should be able to live in our homes in peace and
without fear of retaliations. Without fear of losing our homes.
Most sincere thanks to Diane Reilly Torres for her continued support. Diane is a woman who is not afraid to speak and her words are backed with actions. Diane is a reporter with her own television program "City WatchDog" on our local TV Station, Channel 26. Good work, Diane. Contact Diane Letter to Petaluma Mayor and City Council August 2002 It tells the story! |
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Something
to Remember
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Every time we
turn our head the other way when we see the law flouted
When we tolerate what we know to be wrong When we close our eyes and ears to the corrupt because we are too busy, or too frightened When we fail to speak up or speak out We strike a blow against Freedom and Decency and Justice. - Robert
F. Kennedy -
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If disaster strikes, are you ready? Go to: Emergency Preparedness City of Petaluma Emergency Preparedness Programs: City
of Petaluma Flood & Emergency Preparation
City of Petaluma Fire Department City of Petaluma Police Department
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Elle
on the Web Emergency Preparedness Don't leave your pets behind All About Petaluma Petaluma Sandalwood Estates The story Where
to . . . in Petaluma
Petaluma Sandalwood Estates Mourning   Will Karen Nau run again in 2010? Getting ready for 2010 City of Petaluma Council Elections Prospective Candidates: Teresa Barrett Mike Harris David Rabbitt Pamela Torliatt |
Petaluma Feral Cats Tribute to Max, Petaluma Police K-9 Officer My Rescued Kittens  A Little Tabby speaks for the feral cats of the world Trap Spay Neuter A Family and their Pet Potbellied Pigs The Northern California Bulletin Board A voice for our companion animals Prayers
for Animals Time for change on Petaluma
City Council
We will remember!and No seat on Sonoma County Supervisor for Petaluma City Council Members Time for change "I hold
that the more helpless a creature, the more entitled it is to
protection by man from the cruelty of man."
Mohandas
Gandhi Please help Petaluma Feral Cats
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Understanding
Repressed Memories  Peace on Earth Gentle Hearts Gather (Coming soon) In
Memory of Damini
"BORN FERAL"
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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
webmaster and provided by
Elle on the Web for your personal use. Content subject to change without notice. Marcelle E. Guy |
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Petaluma,
California
