Manufactured Home Owners Network (4/19/2008)
John Sisker
(www.mfghomeowners.net)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 19, 2008
Manufactured Home Owners Network
Questions & Answers
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(Disclaimers)
Editorials and/or Personal Comments:
Related materials are published with the assumption that they are true
and/or as an expression of Freedom of Speech rights. The following is the
personal opinion of myself, and/or others, and is circulated here for
informational purposes only. It is not intended to render any specific
and/or legal advice, nor to disparage, slander, and/or libel any person
and/or organization. It is simply meant to shed light on a number of growing
concerns.
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Notes:
The information contained within this particular circulation in not
connected to or affiliated in any way with the Manufactured Home E-Mail
Net(work) and/or Manufactured Home Owners Network. This is simply the means
to circulate the information. It is also the personal opinion of myself,
and/or others, and does not imply any endorsements or connections to anyone
or any organization.
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Questions & Answers:
Here is the opportunity to have your concerns addressed on an individual
basis. While I am not a lawyer, I will try to answer each submitted question
to the best of my ability. However, remember that this is just my opinion.
If any additional and/or legal advice seems appropriate, I will tell you
that as well. For those questions submitted that would benefit from
additional input, I have included here. This way, others can add their
comments as well. Therefore, if you have a new question or concern, let's
hear from you. On the other hand, if you want to enhance a question/answer
already addressed, this is the proper forum for that as well.
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Subject to Further Distribution:
You are included here on this e-mail distribution list because you either
directly instructed me to do so, and/or you responded to or asked a question
of me and/or the Manufactured Home E-Mail Net(work). Yet, the very concept
of e-mail circulation, and unless indicated otherwise to me personally, is
not considered secure and/or private in nature, and is therefore subject to
further distribution for the express purpose of extracting additional input.
This is for your benefit and is a free service of the Manufactured Home
E-Mail Net(work). However, last names and the actual e-mail address are
removed so others are not bombarded with unnecessary requests. However, at
no time is the actual e-mail address of others sold and/or used in any way
that is not in keeping with the reason it was for receiving for in the fist
place.
Thanks,
John Sisker
============================================================================================================
(advocacy)
Ladies and Gentleman:
Attached is my personal view of Advocacy. It is my personal opinion and I
personally think it is about time to get involved with our mobile homeowners
and create a sound body of work and dedication so that all may benefit and
not just a few. We have the means, we have the knowledge, we have all the
tools. if a country boy like me can figure it out surely the rest of you
can build and provide the services that all mobile home owners require. How
can we expect them to get involved when we are not.
Please respond. I await your reply. Remember, I may not like what you say
but I will defend your right to say it. Thank you.
ALWAYS FAITHFUL,
ROBERT C. HITES
Member of GSMOL, CMRAA, CARA, BCMOA, Life member of VFW, American Veterans
of Vietnam 1968 to 1970. Retired USMC, Gunnery Sergeant and willing to work
with anyone at anytime.
If you lead thru fear you will get little respect, but if lead thru respect
you will have little to fear.
[see attachment]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(ADVOCACY - AS I SEE IT)
Many years ago when I was in the military I did different duties with
various other people and some with various military units that were not part
of my unit but were fighting for a
common goal. We all worked together as a team and brought forth a
considerable power that created a bond and a band of brothers and sisters.
We worked, played and fought for the freedoms that we all share today. It
was our commanders that set the tone of the day. It was our commanders that
gave us our leadership and we in turn got in step with the tasks at hand and
did what we were trained to do. That same situation should apply today in
our advocacy groups.
Whether you are GSMOL, CMRAA, NEIGHBORHOOD FRIEND, BUTTE COUNTY HOMEOWNERS
ASSOCIATION, COMOCAL, SCOMA, JOHN SISKER'S WEBSITE, or any other homeowner
association. Our by laws in all of these organizations clearly state that
we are to promote the general welfare of the mobile home owners. There are
well over a million and half mobile home owners in the state of California
and they are the ones that are suffering today. WHY?? The answer is quite
simple.
Each homeowner association builds their own organization and they create
pockets of territories and in doing so protect those people and shield them
from information that is being published by those that have the knowledge
and the ability to disseminate that information in a timely manner.
Information is vital and information is critical to any organization
regardless of size. Shielding and holding e-mail addresses, telephone
numbers, physical address, and names of organizational leaders and people
that really want to help but are told no keep this under your hat, don't
tell no one, we don't want them to take our membership, we don't care for
their leaders, or whatever the reasoning is a form of lack of judgment and
concern for their fellow mobile home owners.
If our commanders in the military took this sort of stance we would be in
constant turmoil. Granted sometimes we were, but for the most part we came
through with flying colors and did our jobs. But today, right here in the
golden state we have such diversity and such a total lack of responsibility
for our own lifestyles that it is shocking and extremely dangerous
especially with the approach of June 3rd. I have recently had e-mail
traffic and telephone conversation with people within various parts of
California that have indicated to me that we did not know that you even
existed. Why, didn't my President of my homeowners association tell me. He
gave me such good information, but I do not know where it came from. I have
informed the caller and the e-mail sender that the information came from
COMOCAL and provided the original document to them for all to see. Why not,
are we not to promote the general welfare, of course we are. This is not
about COMOCAL, this is not about GSMOL, or CMRAA, this is about putting
information before the people in a timely and professional manner.
There is no doubt that GSMOL has been the driving force for over 45 years
and have done a very good job. But now technology has changed and people
are needing assistance and needing it now. Each of these groups should take
stock in what they are good at. No one can provide all things to everyone,
it will take teamwork. Yes, we need leaders, we have them already in
harness, but these leaders need to gather at a summit and discuss ways to
help the mobile home owner. What is best for the mobile home owner and not
for the advocacy group.
For example GSMOL has the legislative process down. Their attorney Mr.
Priest does an remarkable job in that process. CMRAA's ability lays within
their ranks as providing Mobile Home Residency Law capability with their
attorney Mr. Stanton. He has written and provided numerous legal articles
for us to read and abide by.
COMOCAL has an e-mail network that is rapidly growing and it is able to
provide information as to who and whom and when the e-mail and newsletter is
read and by whom and when. The tracking of this information is vitally
important to reach mobile homeowners. The tools are in place and the master
of the tools are in place as well. We need as a people to come together and
form an alliance. A commander in chief can be any one of the current
president now. But at least start a dialogue that will create harmony and
trust for the mobilehome owners. They are the ones that need us, not a
splintered group but as a force of one voice. We can and must work together
or WE, YOU, THEM will lose and I for one could not stand the heartache.
Please let's get this together.
ALWAYS FAITHFUL,
BOB HITES
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(MHON)
My so-called group or organization is actually the Manufactured Home Owners
Network (MHON), also referred to as John Sisker's Website by Bob Hites. In
reality, it is pretty much the format of what Bob was referring to in his
editorial. The Manufactured Home Owners Network is the premier on-line
informational forum and one-stop-shop for the manufactured home owner, with
no membership and no-dues. Take a look at www.mfghomeowners.net and see for
yourself.
For those of you would like to receive a more personal correspondence,
request to be part of the Manufactured Home E-Mail Net(work) by contact me
personally at jsi...@sprynet.com, asking to be registered. This way, you
will receive a periodic on-line newsletter of related information and from a
variety of sources. Whether GSMOL, CMRAA, COMOCAL, and/or other groups, and
even private homeowners association that are willing to share information,
they have a place to do so. And I might add, the Manufactured Home Owners
Network has nationwide coverage - not just one state.
Sincerely,
John Sisker
Founding Director
Manufactured Home Owners Network (MHON)
www.mfghomeowners.net
jsi...@sprynet.com
(714) 536-3850
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(done to protect manufactured homeowners?)
We live in a park that enticed us to move here with free water [they have
their own well], tennis court, stocked fishing lake, sauna, whirlpool and
various other amenities. The only items that have been provided have been
free water, trash pick up and sewer; the others were never provided or
closed. We have paid extra rental fees to pay for such things as water well
repairs, addition of new facilities to accommodate new tenants and develop
new lots.
When we moved in the policy was to increase our rent each year the same
amount as the COLA the government used to increase Social Security payments.
This was and is considered fair by the tenants however; the park owner has
now decided to begin charging for water at rates that consist of a flat
$26.00 per month base fee which is charged whether you use water or not plus
additional charges for the number of gallons used. The total amount of the
increase will probably amount to an increase of $40.00 to $50.00 per month
per tenant. That increase along with the Cola increases has raised our lot
rental from $176.00 monthly to about $320 per month which is an increase of
approximately 80%. That is based on water usage of 7,500 gallons per month.
We fear this the beginning of the owners efforts to sell the park with the
highest revenues he can develop to increase the value of the park. It is
reasonable to assume that he will also begin charging us for trash pickup
and sewer usage which is now a series of septic tanks that require attention
every four or five years. The park has grown from 150 lots to about 225
since we moved in 12 years ago and the labor required to run the park which
includes trash pickup and necessary cleanup consists of two employees for
maintenance and a park manager.
This staff is more than adequate to maintain the park and it has not
increased in size for the last ten years . My question is: Have other parks
faced similar problems and if so what has been done to enact legislation to
protect the home owners from the large increases and loss of lots if and
when the park is sold ? Do other states have protection for manufactured
park tenants. We live in Texas.
Thanks,
Irving
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(total mercy of the present park owner)
Irving,
First of all, I want to thank you for contacting me at the Manufactured Home
Owners Network (www.mfghomeowners.net). Since I live in California, keeping
abreast of what all the others states are doing at any given time, in
relation to protecting home owners if the park is closed, would be an
impossible task.
However, my suggestion would be to contact some of your states homeowners
associations, for they should have the latest information. I have listed all
the states mobile home owners associations within the "Associations" section
of my Website, again at www.mfghomeowners.net.
On a personal note, in reference to the particulars in your park, unless
things are in writing and/or so stated in the lease and/or Rules &
Regulation, park owners will do as they please - as you have seen. You
mentioned that your rent is now up to $360 per month. However, that's all
perspective. Here, where I live in Southern California, the rent is now
$940, with all the utilities metered and on top of that. In fact, the lowest
rent anywhere around here is $615 per month, with many parks now above $1200
per month. The bottom line is, at least in California, there is no statewide
rent control law or ordinance, so park owners can raise the rent to whatever
amount they want, and every 90-days if they felt like it.
The same holds true if a park is closed around here. Unless an individual
city in all of California, has some type of relocation or park closure
ordinance, the state feels little to no obligation to anyone but the land
owner. To them, we're just renters who should have known better. There is
however a very small token amount that the state (California) says the park
owner may offer to resident. I don't know if Texas has the same thing, but I
doubt it. Residents always get more if they collectively, as a unified
group, sue the park owner. Yet, even than, they always come out with far,
far less then the so-called market value of their homes before getting a
park closure notice.
I think the bottom line to all this is, you will find, that like most
states, individual mobile home owners will come out on the loosing end.
Unless the residents collectively get their act together and buy the park
themselves when it becomes for sale, they will be at the total mercy of the
present park owner.
Good luck,
John Sisker
jsi...@sprynet.com
www.mfghomeowners.net
(714) 536-3850
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(huntington beach - paving over a wetland)
The latest from the Orange County Register:
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/mills-wetland-company-2019006-parking-retirement
Related stories:
http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/local/huntingtonbeach/article_2015505.php
http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/local/huntingtonbeach/article_2005443.php
Annie Burris
Reporter
Orange County Register - The Wave
Bus 714.445.6696
Cell 714.932.1619
More Huntington Beach news at www.ocregister.com/huntington
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(CABRILLO WETLAND DESTRUCTION HISTORY)
April 12, 2008
Dear Sirs,
Jan Vandersloot mentioned that I should notify the various agencies involved
with the Cabrillo Wetlands destruction in Huntington Beach, to show the
history of wetland abuse and violations by the Mills Land and Water Company
(Mills) since their purchase of the property on August 11, 2004.
Vic Leipzig summarized the agreement between the City of Huntington Beach,
Caltrans and Robert London Moore of Mills Land and Water Company regarding
the existing wetlands on the Cabrillo property as shown below in an excerpt
from and article by Vic Leipzig in the HB Independent Newspaper, dated April
3, 2008.
"The city and coastal commission acknowledged Mills' right to develop on
parcels like the already-paved corner of Beach Boulevard and Pacific Coast
Highway, plus a large parcel on Newland Street. Mills acknowledged the
protective habitat zoning on the wetlands portions of its property.
Everything was settled. Mills didn't get everything it wanted, but it had
the green light to proceed with some very high-value development."
To give you additional background, I am including information from 1996:
1996 - Coastal Commission Amendment 2-94 approved by the City of Huntington
Beach whereby the City approved the zoning designations change from
Commercial Visitor-Serving (CV) to Coastal Conservation (CC) for the wetland
areas along Pacific Coast Highway from Newland Street to the Action Boat
property. And the Cabrillo Mobile Home Park was zoned for a mobilehome park
only by the City.
Mills plans to develop all this land, and not restore and protect it as an
environmentally sensitive habitat. I do have copies of one version of
proposed plans for a hotel/condominium complex planned by Mills. From about
May 2005 to January 2006, Robert London Moore of Mills and others reviewed
this presentational concept of a hotel and condominiums, the "Hotel
Huntington By The Sea," which had been designed to extend from the corner of
Beach Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway to the corner of Newland Street
and Pacific Coast Highway and northward up the western side of Newland
Street. Incidentally, no 100-foot buffer to the adjacent wetlands is
included in the presentation. The "Amended Agreement for Settlement of
Litigation" that Mills, the City and Caltrans signed in June 2004 also
eliminated any requirement of a 100-foot buffer. Robert London Moore had
earlier presented this "Amended" Agreement in March of 2003 to the City,
among other items, to specifically remove the following agencies from the
review cycle:
California Coastal Commission
California Department of Fish and Game
US Department of Fish and Wildlife
One concept of Mills' hotel development, dated July 26, 2005 and August 3,
2005, was presented by Government Solutions, Inc., but was not chosen, and
Mills proceeded to explore other concepts of this Hotel Huntington By The
Sea/Condominium Complex.
Copies of this first Hotel/Condominium Complex concept presentation and
meeting minutes are available.
Sincerely,
Mary Jo Baretich, President
(714) 960-9507
Cabrillo Wetlands Conservancy
The following is a TIMELINE of violations by Mills on the property. The
periodic scraping near the block wall by the mobilehome park maintenance
workers of the Eastern Cabrillo Wetland Parcel 1 may also constitute a
violation. I still suspect that they have been systematically poisoning the
plants at that end. We do have photos of herbicide on the plants. I also
have my suspicions about the Western - Front Cabrillo Wetland Parcel 3,
also. Residents of Cabrillo Mobile Home Park have observed the maintenance
workers running their golf carts over the wetland vegetation.
CABRILLO WETLAND DESTRUCTION HISTORY
SEPTEMBER 29, 2004 - DESTRUCTION OF WETLANDS NEAR ACTION BOATS. The scraped
area is approximately 100 feet by 100 feet in size. Documented by Jan
Vandersloot and Mary Jo Baretich. See attached email from Jan Vandersloot
dated September 29, 2004 with photos
MARCH 2005 - NEW FENCE AT WEST END OF CABRILLO. After the wind blew down
the fences in December 2004, the mobilehome park management had their fence
builder put up a new fence at the West end of Cabrillo adjacent to the Big
Shell Wetlands. When he removed the old fencing, the builder threw the
material into the wetlands (total 8-foot sections of fencing, posts, metal
posts set in concrete and left-over concrete). He also built the fence
about one foot further into the wetlands. No permit was filed for this new
fence.
I notified the City Enforcement, Mike Fuentes, with a letter and photos of
the material left in the wetlands. Also, the children from Huntington By
The Sea Mobile Estates Park used the eight-foot sections of fencing to build
a fort under one of the trees near the Action Boats property on the
wetlands. Then they accidently set the fort on fire and I called the fire
department and police. The department put out the fire and the policemen
thought the fort was neat. Then they set it on fire again...big time.
Again, the fire department came down and put out the fire (about 1:00 AM).
This documentation by photos showing the destruction of vegetation, etc. was
part of the package that I sent to the city. Mike said he would contact the
park management but I don't believe that happened. After a while, we
residents cleaned up most of the trash and mysteriously the fencing began to
disappear, section by section. Also, the chairs and sofa. I was told that
the kids carted them all away to the Arundo area closed to Beach Boulevard
for a new fort there. Letter to Mike Fuentes of HB City is attached.
FEBRUARY 26- 28, 2005 - NEW FENCE AT EAST END OF CENTRAL CABRILLO WETLANDS.
Then, of course they built a new fence at the East End of the central
Cabrillo Wetlands. I called the city to see if they had to have a permit
for this fence. I was told that no permit was filed. This fencing also was
not built in the same location as the old fence, as you know. I was given
word that Mills Land and Water was planning to use the Central Cabrillo
parcel for parking vehicles and RVs for the Huntington By The Sea RV Park.
MAY 6, 2005 - ILLEGAL REMOVAL OF WETLAND PLANTS FROM CENTRAL CABRILLO
WETLANDS. Jan Vandersloot sent an email to the city and state agencies
concerning this violation.
MARCH 31, 2007 - REMOVAL OF FRONT FENCING. I took pictures of the
management's removal of the fencing between the front wetlands and the
mobilehome. They were very aware of my presence and were very careful to
use their equipment on the asphalt and not to disturb the wetlands too much
(at that time).
APRIL 13, 2007 - REMOVAL OF PALM TREES ON WETLAND PROPERTY AND NEAR
ENTRANCE. The management was not present when the tree company removed the
palm trees and stumps from the front entrance and the palm trees from the
wetlands near the old front fence location.
APRIL 18, 2007 - ASPHALT PILES. The asphalt company dumped several loads of
asphalt on the Central Wetlands parcel prior to their paving of the Cabrillo
Mobile Home Park. I was alerted and approached the paver workers. I told
them to get the asphalt off the wetlands now. I mentioned that large fines
could be imposed for the destruction of the wetlands. They said no one from
the management had indicated that they could not dump the asphalt there.
They removed the asphalt within the day. I took photos but did not call the
City.
JUNE, 2007 - NEW FRONT FENCING. After they tore down the front fencing,
the maintenance workers for the mobilehome park rebuilt a new fence. They
built the new fence approximately one foot further into the wetlands. This
was pointed out to me by several of the residents who live in the front row.
The park then paved over the exposed portion. Interestingly, the wetland
plants such as alkali mallow are pushing up through this paved-over section.
They did not repair the existing fencing, they rebuilt a new one. No permit
was filed to build a new fence.
FEBRUARY 23, 2008 - FINAL DESTRUCTION OF CENTRAL CABRILLO WETLANDS. Jan
Vandersloot documented this destruction of wetlands with photos and emails.
Again, the intent of Mills Land and Water Company is to expand his
Huntington By The Sea RV Park by paving over this wetland parcel.
Because Mills has been actively pursuing concepts for a Hotel/Condominium
Complex, this paving would be the first step in the destruction and rezoning
of the wetlands.
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(is moore bailing out?)
Hi all,
Looks like Moore is bailing out. Maybe he is really worried about jail
time. Since he has been seen driving and walking around here (many times
with the manager, Sabrina) and was seen and yelled at by John M. the day
after the first OC Register article appeared, we can be pretty sure he was
the instigator of the paving job.... he wants to expand the Huntington By
The Sea RV Park. Jan said Mills will be taking plugs of the soil and it
would be best if some people observe them doing it. Of course, they will
avoid any known wetland plant areas. Lets say our prayers that all the
photos and documentation by Jan, Mark, Merrilee and myself, plus the
Trestles Delineation Report, will prove the current existence of wetlands.
Mary Jo
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(illegal wetland fill at cabrillo mobile home park occurring now)
[an original letter]
Dear Mayor Cook, Huntington Beach City Council and Staff, and Coastal
Commission Staff,
I would like to notify you of an unpermitted and illegal fill project and
destruction of a wetland at the Cabrillo Mobile Home Park in Huntington
Beach on Coast Highway east of Beach Blvd that occurred today Saturday
February 23, 2008, and I request that you stop this work immediately and
require the fill to be removed and the wetland vegetation restored,
including the pickleweed, salt grass, alkali mallow and other wetland
species formerly on the site.
As shown on the embedded photographs, all of the vegetation has been removed
from the site and the workers are importing rock fill and dumping it into
the wetlands. This is occurring despite the landowner's attempts earlier to
fill this wetland with asphalt which I brought to your attention in an email
on May 10, 2005, after which the unpermitted asphalt fill was removed. It is
readily apparent that the landowner knows that this is a wetland and that
proper permits should be obtained from the City and the Coastal Commission
before this type of work is performed.
My previous email to you including photographs from May 10, 2005 is
available on request. Thank you for your rapid response to this request. I
believe the landowner is doing this work on a weekend to avoid having
enforcement action rapidly deployed.
Sincerely,
Jan D. Vandersloot, MD
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(these are wetlands)
Hi all,
Obviously, these are wetlands. The whole area has been noted as tidal flats
and marsh land in several studies. One such study, The 'HUNTINGTON BEACH
LOCAL COASTAL STUDY Costal Zone Land-Use Alternatives' was put together in
June 1978 by the Laboratory for Experimental Design at Cal Poly Pomona for
the City of Huntington Beach. This study, along with the other many studies
talk about the South Branch Fault of the Newport-Inglewood Fault with
leveled Long Beach in 1933. This fault line runs just hundreds of feet
north of the Cabrillo area. Actually, the fault runs right through the new
three-story residential development on Newland. A potential for
liquidification. This study states that 'This fault, as well as others in
the Structural Zone, are considered potentially active. In the event of an
earthquake, it presents a hazard because soil conditions on the site would
actually magnify the effects of a ground tremor.'
I will be sending more information on the Bitterwater Lake later.
Mary Jo
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(MHP meeting)
Dear Bruce/Gus,
The City of Mountain View hosted an incredibly well-run meeting for its
Mobile Home Park - MHP residents. The City has made it essentially
impossible for park owners to convert to condos; Mountain View is a "poster
child" for a city wanting to keep its MHP.
None of the city staff, however, is aware that the State is approving
installations that do not meet State standards. My park used to be called
"TL MHP," and has just renamed itself "Moffet MHP." The previous operator
was making a living on kickbacks from Advantage Homes for allowing
installations of modular homes that are way too big for their spaces. We
bought one of them. I am following up on that with one of Mountain View
City's staffers, giving them documentation that my home does not meet state
space coverage requirements, but has state approval.
Here's a question: We would like to refinance our modular home. A couple
of places we contacted have gotten out of the business, at least
temporarily, because of the mortgage crisis. Our lender, Origen Financial
in Texas, has suspended loan operations because they were losing money on
every new loan.
Do you know any lender in California who is willing to re-finance a modular
home? Thanks.
Wendy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(refinancing older manufactured/mobile homes)
John,
This is out of my area of knowledge. Any suggestions?
Gus
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(still some around)
Gus,
The general market has changed of course, but refinancing older
manufactured/mobile homes is still available here and there.
Have Wendy try...
Manufactured Housing Division. Inc.
(888) 616-2417
www.manufacturedhomefinance.info
Good luck,
John Sisker
jsi...@sprynet.com
www.mfghomeowners.net
(714) 536-3850
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(COMOCAL)
Hello Everyone:
In the interest of providing information the Coalition of Mobile Home of
California (COMOCAL) has come up with an idea to expedite various news
topics that relate to mobile home owners.
If you do not want to be on this e-mail list please advise and you will be
immediately removed. COMOCAL does not want to impose on anyone who does not
want this FREE information. There will be no charge for this service.
COMOCAL wants to know if you are willing to do the following:
1. COMOCAL will send you information via your e-mail address. You in turn
forward that information onto those people that have e-mail that live in a
mobile home park. People such as attorneys, lobbyist, and advocates shall be
included as well.
2. If you do not have e-mail and would like to distribute the information
please advise COMOCAL and COMOCAL will send you enough WHISPERS to handed
out to those that do not have e-mail.
COMOCAL's goal is to provide information to all mobile home residents that
are willing to read the information, get involved within their mobile home
park. COMOCAL wants you to help your neighbor.
The next WHISPER will be published in March. Please give COMOCAL your
thoughts and suggestions. I can be reached at 530-743-2965 or my e-mail is
anvil...@yahoo.com.
COMOCAL looks forward to assisting as many mobile homeowners as possible.
Thank you,
BOB HITES
Vice President of COMOCAL
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(looking for affordable housing in southern california?)
Here is a very good source for new and used manufactured homes throughout
Southern California, all priced to sell. Click on this ink for access to the
information... http://www.mfghomespecialist.net/ParkModels.htm.
Meantime, check out the following Website for information on everything from
new manufactured homes we can modify somewhat to your specs, to a would of
other related information on HCD approved homes...
http://www.mfghomespecialist.net/.
John Sisker
Senior Sales Consultant
Mesa Homes
jsi...@sprynet.com
(714) 536-3850 - direct
(714) 815-7625 - cell
(714) 899-0588 - office
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(AARP)
Hi Tim and other MHP homeowners,
I called the AARP number: 1-866-448-3615. I was referred to the voice mail
for the AARP Legislative Rep, Ernie Powell. I left a message for him as to
why Prop 98 needs to be defeated and the True Eminent Domain Prop 99 needs
to be supported.
At another time I will call back and ask for the AARP State President,
Jeanine English. I will present her with the same urgent information. These
calls need to be continued from all over the state until AARP becomes aware
of the danger.
Regards,
Jean Stirling-Stevens
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Prop 98 needs to be defeated and the True Eminent Domain Prop 99 needs to
be supported)
We need YOUR help to persuade AARP to take a stand against Prop 98! They
were very supportive in helping us defeat Prop 199 in 1996, but they seem
reluctant to help stop Prop 98. Your call could help impress upon them how
important it is to us to STOP JARVIS. Below is the toll-free phone number
for AARP's Sacramento office. Please leave a message for Jeanine English,
the AARP state president, and include the following talking points. Please
call today.
· Seniors on fixed incomes rely on rent control and renter
protections to survive. Prop 98 would enable Park owners to practice
Eminent Domain against homeowners by economically evicting them from their
own homes.
· I want to urge AARP to oppose Prop. 98, which would end rent
control in California.
· As the largest organization representing seniors, AARP should come
out strongly opposed NOW to this dangerous measure.
Sacramento Office
1415 L Street, Suite 960
Sacramento, CA 95814
Tel: 1-866-448-3615
Thank you for your help,
Tim Sheahan
President, GSMOL
760 727-4495
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(judge rules against mobile home residents)
-- Huntington Beach, California --
A judge has ruled against residents at Huntington Harbour Mobile Estates,
siding with their new land owner who wants to appraise the land for much
more than the land has been historically valued.
This means that the mobile home residents -- made up of retired seniors --
will likely have to pay about $800 a month more for rent, potentially
pricing out many of them from the park, residents said.
Park residents had wanted the judge to rule that their lease calls for the
land to be appraised as a mobile home park as it has traditionally been
done.
Instead the judge ruled that the appraiser has the ultimate discretion on
the value of the land as long as he or she is accordance with the lease and
laws. Residents said they haven't decided yet whether to appeal the judge's
decision.
Burnham USA Equities officials who bought the mobile home park property in
2006 said they are simply the landowners. The corporation -- made up of the
mobile home residents -- owns the actual lease on the park and is ultimately
responsible for establishing rent rates, said Burnham's President Therese
Hotvedt.
"The association sets their rents," she said. "We have consistently made it
clear that, so long as the association will provide us with what we are
clearly entitled to under the ground lease, we will collectively see to it
that no longstanding tenant will be forced to move from the park as a result
of an inability to pay all or any portion of a rent increase required to
meet the association's financial obligations."
If the lease goes up, the rent would inevitably have to rise, said Charles
Payne, president of the mobile park's corporation.
"We had a board meeting and I had to tell the residents it was over and we
lost," Payne said about a Tuesday night meeting following the ruling earlier
in the day.
Residents have said the new owner wants to give them the boot and redevelop
the 16-acre parcel near the beach. They point to the Seal Beach Market that
closed Dec. 19 because the owners said they could not afford to pay the
higher rent on a lease that recently came up for renewal. Burnham owns the
Seal Beach Shopping Center, where the grocery store was leased.
Officials of Burnham, a Newport Beach real estate investment firm that
bought the land for $19 million last year, vehemently deny any intent to
force out residents and redevelop the land. This is the first time the
company has owned a mobile home park.
Burnham said the lease allows the land to be appraised for best land use.
The appraisal would come out to about $33 million.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(handwriting on the wall, in spit of the spin)
To me, this is a totally ridiculous decision. The residents already pay
$1200 a month, so seemingly they need to add another $800 on top of that? Of
course, this whole thing is definitely about pricing residents from the
park, in spite of how the new park owner and courts wish to spin their
explanation. I have been living in a mobile home park over 50 years now,
have been selling new and used manufactured/mobile home way too long, and
seen this very thing happen throughout the state time and again, not to know
what's really going on here. The handwriting is on the wall. Wake up and
smell the eviction and ultimate park closure notice.
Sincerely,
John Sisker
Founding Director
Manufactured Home Owners Network (MHON)
www.mfghomeowners.net
jsi...@sprynet.com
(714) 536-3850
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(manufactured home burns to the ground)
Hi everyone. I am Brenda. I live in Green Oaks Mobile Home Park here in
Beautiful Tracy Ca. Yesterday a home burned to the ground. I can't believe
how big the flames got!!! The Flames covered a 12 to 15 foot span to the
next home!!! I am so shaken that I got up at 5:30 today to plan a big clean
up of the inside of my house and trim my neighbors trees from my fence. I
have a 2004 Home but I still see things I could do to make my home safer.
All the cords behind the TV and my Computer and all the cords in my son's
room from his game station and TV need to bee hung up on hooks.. I guess we
all need to look around our place and try to make it as safe as we can. I
know the kids who live in that home that burned down.
(They are friends with my son. This is a vary sad day for all of us here at
Green Oaks Mobile Home Park. Just had to vent!! Brenda Burnett sp 109 Green
Oaks Mobile Home Park in Tracy Ca. Please go to www.tracypress.com to see
pix.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(thanks for caring)
They lost everything. The kids are Julie 16 and Danny 19. They are ok. They
lost 2 of the 3 dogs in the fire and can't find the cats. Everything went up
in flames. I mean everything!! I will get back ASAP with any info I can fine
out. Thanks for caring.
Brenda
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(our thoughts and prayers)
Brenda:
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. If you can give me a name and
mailing address. What can we do to help? What do they need?
Thanks,
Bob Hites
Vice President of COMOCAL
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(donations)
Hi Bob,
My name is Judy Lawson I have been working with the Stanislaus Mobilehome
Advocates for some time. I am pasting the info you asked for concerning the
Hove family whose mobilehome burned. Employees at the Costco Meat Plant have
started to collect donations for the Hove family. If anyone from the
community would like to donate please send donations to:
Costco Meats #210
17880 W. Schulte Road
Tracy, CA 95377
Make checks payable to Doug Hove and we will make sure his family receives
all donations.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(thanks you)
Thank you.
I will hang this info up in the parks office.
Brenda
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(mistakes do happen)
A client bought a new home and the broker wanted to send flowers for the
occasion. They arrived at the home and the owner read the card; it said
"Rest in Peace".
The owner was angry and called the florist to complain. After he had told
the florist of the obvious mistake and how angry he was, the florist said.
"Sir, I'm really sorry for the mistake, but rather than getting angry you
should imagine this: somewhere there is a funeral taking place today, and
they have flowers with a note saying, "Congratulations on your new home".
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(take the next step to keep medicare fair!)
Just a quick reminder that Congress still hasn't acted to make Medicare
fair. Which means that escalating premium increases could be right around
the corner.
If Congress does not act to protect older Americans, then in a few months we
may be facing a dramatic increase in out-of-pocket costs, based on Medicare's
reimbursement formulas.
You can sign up for our www.KeepMedicareFair.org petition, and we hope there
is more you can help us accomplish.
Please take a few minutes to fill out this short survey that will help us
strengthen our advocacy on your behalf.
Medicare premiums have never been higher. Some services older Americans
need aren't even covered. And most Medicare beneficiaries have no other
affordable insurance options.
Congress had a chance to address this issue late last year. But they could
not reach agreement, and gridlock meant they just kicked the problem down
the road. They passed a short-term stop-gap that only lasts until June 30.
That is simply unacceptable.
So this year, we are doubling our efforts. You've already helped get us
within reach of our goal of 200,000 messages to Congress to
KeepMedicareFair, now take the next step to make our campaign as strong as
possible!
Thank you again for all of your help.
Sincerely,
AARP
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Zell/MHC intimidation)
Thanks Barb,
I was actually deposed in the MHC case against the County Supervisor and the
MHC attorney did try to intimidate me for statements I had made about
Zell/MHC in our newsletter. I was aware of SLAPP suit protections and
continue to feel safe so long as statements I make (or any volunteer of a
non-profit advocacy group) are what is believed to be the truth. I've been
threatened with lawsuits but never actually sued for comments I've made.
Best wishes,
Tim Sheahan
GSMOL President
760 727-4495
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(include me)
John,
I used to receive your newsletter. Don't know what happened. Could you
re-include me.
Gary
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(now included)
Gary,
The mother board on my old computer fired. I ended up with a new computer.
Even though I managed to save all the files and programs from my old hard
drive, I soon discovered that the new Windows Vista is compatible with very
little from Windows XP. The bottom line is, I lost all my e-mails. I have
been recreating the list, but that is why many of you have not been
receiving my newsletters of late.
In your case, this has now been resolved. Please put the word out to others
you may know who may be in the same boat.
Thanks,
John Sisker
jsi...@sprynet.com
www.mfghomeowners.net
(714) 536-3850
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(GSMOL Legislative Update)
Good afternoon:
The new GSMOL Legislative Update is attached above and copied below for your
review. This week there were three GSMOL sponsored/supported bills heard in
committee. They are not controversial bills and have little or no
opposition. Maury handled them well without the need for volunteer
testimony or support during the hearings. They are as follows:
o On Monday, GSMOL Sponsored AB 2857 (Lieber) passed out of Assm
Utilities and Advances to Assn. Appropriations. The bill strengthens the
CARE utility discount program (See item 10 in update).
o On Tuesday, SB 1452 (Correa) passed out of Sen. Judiciary and
advances to Sen. Appropriations. The bill allows higher fines for mobile
home dealers and sales persons (item 7 in update).
o Then on Wednesday, AB 2050 (Garcia) passed out of Assm. Housing and
advanced to Assm. Appropriations. This requires smoke alarms to be
installed and water heaters be properly strapped (item 8 in update).
By contrast, SB 1234 (Correa) as amended, will be one of the most hotly
contested mobile home bills of the current legislative session. For the
first time, mobile homeowners can achieve fairness by applying reasonable
limits on park manager's access to the homeowner's rented lot. The intent
is to achieve a more acceptable level of privacy and dignity, and to reduce
the harassment of homeowners when unprofessional and incompetent park
managers issue written notices that can lead to eviction for frivolous or
minor violations of the parks Rules & Regulations.
We just learned this bill is scheduled to be heard on the Senate floor next
week (week of April 21st). EVERYONE IS URGED TO CALL YOUR OWN SENATOR'S
LOCAL OFFICE AND URGE HIM / HER TO SUPPORT SB 1234, AS AMENDED. Please do
this on Monday or Tuesday, by phone, fax or e-mail (no time for snail-mail).
It only takes a 90 second phone call or a short message - just give your
name and city, tell them you are a MH owner and to support SB 1234. That is
all it takes to register your support in the tally taken by the Senator's
staff. This is the heart of the grassroots effort, and if we do it in mass,
grassroots can trump big money. It really works!
Your support will be very helpful. As always, please contact me if you have
any questions, comments or suggestions.
Thank you all,
Jim Burr, Chair
GSMOL Legislative Action Team
Phone & Fax (559) 732-2177
Cell (559) 799-3821
GSMOL LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
By Maurice A. Priest, Legislative Advocate
April 16, 2008
2008 GSMOL SPONSORED/SUPPORTED BILLS
SENATE BILLS
SB 127 (Kuehl) - Support. Upon sale of a mobile/manufactured home, the
transfer or resale disclosure requirements be made available within 10 days
of a signed contract to purchase, rather than by close of escrow. Sponsor:
Sen. Kuehl. GSMOL: Support; Pending on Assembly Floor. Urge your
Assemblymember to Support.
Allows buyer advance notice of disclosure issues
Provides more consumer protection
Benefits buyer and seller
SB 900 (Corbett) - Support. Would impose restrictions on the
condo-conversion of mobile home parks and improve rent protections for
moderate income households. With the veto of AB 1542 (Evans), SB 900 is now
the legislation to address this important statewide problem. Sponsor:
GSMOL. Will be heard in late April or early May 2008 in Assembly Housing
Committee. Urge your Assemblymember to Support.
SB 1107 (CORREA)-Support. Would give disabled and handicapped homeowners
the right to make modifications to their mobilehomes to accommodate their
disabilities without interference from park management. Homeowners would
still have to obtain legally required permits, but park owners could not
prohibit construction of ramps, for example. Bill has been further amended
to state that the right to have a medical caregiver extends to homeowners of
any age. Passed Senate Floor on April 1st by vote of 36 to 0. Advances to
Assembly. Urge your own Assemblymember to support SB 1107 by Senator
Correa.
SB 1122 (Correa) ---Support---This bill would require HCD to notify a
homeowner of the home, by telephone or in person, that there home is in
violation of code and that a citation is being issued. Purpose of the bill
is to give notice to homeowners so that they can ask questions of the
enforcement agency and understand why there home is being cited. Passed
Senate Transportation & Housing Committee on April 1st. Placed on Suspense
in Senate Appropriations Committee, to be acted on later with all other
fiscal bills. Urge your Senator to support.
SB 1226 (Alquist) ---Support---This bill would amend the CalHome Loan
program to allow park owners who co-apply with a local government,
homeowners, and nonprofits, to obtain loans for infrastructure repair and
replacement in parks, only upon proof that low income residents will benefit
from loan, and requiring that a percentage of the park be limited to low
income homeowners in the future. The bill passed Senate Transportation &
Housing on April 15th, and now advances to Senate Appropriations. Urge your
Senator to support.
SB 1234** (Correa) ---Support--- Provides management shall give homeowners a
7-day notice before entering a homeowner's space for purposes other than an
emergency, reading utility meters or when the space is otherwise abandoned.
Sponsor: Author. Introduced in the Senate, February 14, 2008, pending
committee assignment. Passed Senate Judiciary on March 25th by vote of 3 to
2. Pending on Senate Floor. Urge your Senator and Assemblymember to
support.
SB 1452 (Correa)-Support-Bill will increase the authority of HCD to impose
mid-range penalties against mobilehome dealers and salesperson who violate
the law. Right now HCD has authority to impose fines of only $100 to $250
or to terminate their license. This will would allow HCD to impose
mid-range fines of $250 to $2,000. Passed Senate Judiciary Committee on
April 15th, and now advances to Senate Appropriations. Urge your Senator to
support.
Assembly Bills
AB 1111 (DeSaulnier) Support - As amended, would give local governments the
right to protect existing 55 and over age parks. Bill gives state
authorization to cities and counties to adopt ordinances prohibiting park
owners from changing 55 and over parks to all age parks. PASSED ASSEMBLY
HOUSING AND ASSEMBLY FLOOR AND NOW ADVANCES TO SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.
URGE YOUR SENATOR TO SUPPORT.
AB 2050 by Bonnie Garcia-Support-in Assembly. As amended on April 7, 2008,
the bill passed Assembly Housing on April 16th, and now advances to Assembly
Appropriations. The bill provides that all water heaters installed in
mobilehomes but be strapped and secured so they will not fall in the event
of an earthquake, and it also requires verification that smoke alarms have
been installed when a mobilehome is resold. Assemblymember Garcia has
promised to introduce a separate bill that will be amended to enable
mobilehome owners to purchase less expensive replacement water heaters
instead of specially manufactured water heaters that cost far more. Urge
your Assemblymember and Senator to support.
AB 2857 by Sally Lieber-Support-in Assembly. As amended March 25, 2008,
this bill is sponsored and supported by GSMOL, with new language to address
a loophole in the law regarding the CARE Utility Discount Program. GSMOL
has learned that if in a 100 space mobilehome park, that 90 of the spaces
are on master-meter/submeter utility systems, and the 10 remaining spaces
are on direct bill meters with the utility, that none of the residents will
be considered for the CARE utility discounts, because the "entire" park is
not on master-meter/submeters. This current position by the Public
Utilities Commission is unfair to low income homeowners in a park that would
otherwise quality for a discount on their utilities, but cannot participate
because some number of other spaces in the park are not submetered. AB 2857
will correct and close this loophole. Bill passed Assembly Utilities
Committee on April 14th, and now advances to Assembly Appropriations. Urge
your Assemblymember to support AB 2857.
For the latest information on the status of pending mobilehome legislation,
after normal business hours and on weekends, call the GSMOL Legislative
Hotline,
at toll free 1-800-888-1727.
============================================================================================================Sincerely,John SiskerFounding DirectorManufactured Home Owners Networkwww.mfghom...@sprynet.com(800) 724-6644 & (Phone ID: 714.536.3850)Fax: (801) 365-8205(714) 536-3850Be sure to click on and read all pages setting forth disclaimers, copyright&trademark notices, responsibility statements, etc. within the ManufacturedHome (Owners) Network at www.mfghomeowners.net under the Structure,Responsibility & Statements sections.No matter how you became affiliated to this particular e-mail circulationlist, to stop receiving e-mail from the Manufactured Home E-MailNet(work),send an e-mail message addressed to jsi...@sprynet.com or simplyreply with the word 'Remove' in the Subject line.