HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes 95-85 Opposing Misleading Rental Assistance Initiative INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM AGENDA PACKET
SECTION C .C. - //C'° X
City of Palm Desert MEETING DATE 8----0 L/—C 5
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: SHEILA R. GILLIGAN, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
DATE: AUGUST 24, 1995
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION FROM CITY OF CARSON OPPOSING THE
MISLEADING "RENTAL ASSISTANCE" INITIATIVE
We received the attached resolution from the City of Carson dealing with the issue that is listed
•
on the City Council Agenda as Item #2 under City Council Requests for Action.
We are providing this copy in the event the City Council chooses to adopt a resolution of its
own.
LkQLQ(
SHEILA R. GILLIGAN CMC
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
CITY COUNCIL ACTION:
SRG:mpg APPROVED DENTED
RECEIVED OTHER�ed K.J
ETI��E
AYES: 0 1%f ems
� ' 0 i a� �=e�di
NOES.
ABSENT: - - - -
ABSTAIN:
VERIFIED BY: oGIP-d-/72
Original on File with City eialk' s Orfice
•
RESOLUTION NO. 95-85
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA, OPPOSING THE
MISLEADING "RENTAL ASSISTANCE" INITIATIVE
WHEREAS, mobilehome owners in our jurisdiction are overwhelmingly senior citizens
and low-income families living on fixed retirement or severely-limited incomes; and
WHEREAS, nearly 100 California counties, cities, and towns have passed some form
of mobilehome rent protection ordinance to safeguard these vulnerable elderly and low-income
families from excessive rent increases; and
WHEREAS, mobilehome owners are somewhat captive due to the shortage of available
mobilehome parks rental spaces, and mobilehome owners often forfeit their only asset, their
homes, when they cannot pay excessive rents; and
WHEREAS, the City Council opposes any statewide preemption of local control to make
policy responding to the crisis in "Affordable Housing", especially mobilehome park space rents
and availability; and
WHEREAS, the "Rental Assistance" initiative is being misrepresented as one which
would assist mobilehome owners in meeting their rents, rather than one which would allow
mobilehome park landlords to raise rents without restriction.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Palm
Desert, California, opposes the "Rental Assistance" initiative appearing on the March, 1996,
ballot.
PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Palm
Desert, this 24th day of August, 1995, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Benson, Kelly, Snyder, Spiegel, Crites
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
BUFORD A. CRITES, MAYOR
ATTEST:
SHEILA R. GILLIGAN
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS/CITY CLERK
RESOLUTION NO. 95-071 Liu , u
j7:7
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL9F,,THE P!'i
CITY OF CARSON OPPOSING THE MISLEAMNG^
"RENTAL ASSISTANCE" INITIATIVE t i
WHEREAS, Mobilehome owners in our jurisdiction are overwhelmingly senior citizens
and low-income families living on fixed retirement or severely-limited incomes; and
WHEREAS,Nearly 100 California counties, cities and towns have passed some form of
mobilehome rent protection ordinance to safeguard these vulnerable elderly and low income
families from excessive rent increases; and
WHEREAS, Mobilehome owners are somewhat captive due to the shortage of available
mobilehome park rental spaces; and
WHEREAS, The body opposes any statewide preemption of local control to make policy
responding to the crisis in"Affordable Housing, Especially" mobilehome park space rents and
availability; and
WHEREAS, Mobilehome owners often forfeit their only asset, their homes, when they
cannot pay excessive rents; and
WHEREAS, This initiative is being misrepresented as one which would assist
mobilehome owners in meeting their rents, rather than one which would allow mobilehome park
landlords to raise rents without restriction; and
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the City Council of the
City of Carson opposes the"Rental Assistance" initiative appearing on the March, 1996 ballot
and directs that such opposition be communicated to the Governor,the Legislature and all cities
within the State of California and those advocacy organizations to which we belong.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS 1st DAY OF ust , 1995.
M OR
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
/ f CITY ATTORNEY
JDM/kjg/9
res-rnt
•
Resolution No. 95-071/Page 2 of 2
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss.
CITY OF CARSON )
I, Helen S. Kawagoe, City Clerk of the City of Carson, California, do hereby certify that the whole
number of members of the City Council is five; that the foregoing resolution, being Resolution No. 95-071
was duly and regularly adopted by said Council at a regular meeting duly and regularly held on the 1st day of
August, 1995, and that the same was passed and adopted by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Mitoma, Calas, O'Neal, and Fajardo
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Olaes
(Ch.,04,
City Clerk , City of Carson,, lifornia
the Golden State r___bilhome Owners Leag says. . .
VOTE
THE PHONY
" Non )(P " R E NTA L ASSISTANCE "
on INITIATIVE
P. O. Box 876 • Garden Grove, California 92642 • 800/888-1727 • 714/826-2401 Fax
CAMPAIGN MANAGER: June 29, 1995
Dave Hennessy
408/244-8134
CAMPAIGN CONSULTANT: I Dear Local Elected Official,
Steve Hoperaft
916/457-5546 Every so often our initiative process is used to try to fool
Golden State Mobilhome voters into approving a measure that masquerades as its
Owners League (GSMOL) opposite. Such a measure will face voters on the March 1996
statewide ballot. As is often the case, a well-heeled special
California Labor interest is trying to line its pockets by pulling the wool over voters'
Federation,AFL-CIO eyes. The sponsors call it the "rental assistance" initiative, although
American Association of
Retired Persons(AARP) it is wholly paid for by mobilehome park landlords and assists only
California Council of Churches them. This measure is an example of how a special interest
Congress of California Seniors attempts to use the initiative process to get what local and state
California Democratic Party elected officials have denied them: state preemption of local
City of Auburn control.
City of Azusa
City of Calimesa I am writingto solicityour
City of Carson opposition to the fraudulent "rental
City of Clovis assistance" initiative. Don't be fooled by the fraud. This measure
City of El Monte would accomplish the opposite of what it pretends. Rather than
City of Grover Beach rovide rental assistance, it would phase out more than 100 local
City of Huntington Beach p
City of Lathrop rental assistance ordinances currently in place, and prohibit local
City of Milpitas voters or elected officials from providing meaningful rental
City of Paramount City of Petaluma assistance to mobilehome owners in the future. Please don't
City of Pomona associate yourself with fraud. If you have mistakenly endorsed this
City of Redding initiative, please rescind your support by returning the enclosed
City of Rohnert Park
City of Roseville opposition card. We hope that you will also sponsor the
City of San Bernardino enclosed resolution of opposition in your community.
City of San Dimas
City of San Jose
City of San Juan Capistrano The League of California Cities opposes this raid on local
City of San Leandro control. The League opposes the measure because it
City of S San Rafael
permanently yourabilityspiraling
ermanentl removes to address
City of S
City of Santee mobilehome space rents in your jurisdiction. Why strip control from
City of Saratoga communities and give it to the state, just when the voters have
City of Sunnyvale
City of Watsonville said they want more local control over how they're governed?
County of El Dorado The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), California
County of Placer Council of Churches and California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO are
County of Riverside
County of Santa Clara just a few of the dozens of organizations working with us to defeat
County of Santa Cruz this misleading measure.
County of Ventura
Assem.Valerie Brown California communities have enacted mobilehome rent
Assem.John Burton stabilization ordinances and arbitration boards to address crisis
• Assem.Dom Cortese
Sen.Bill Craven conditions in local mobilehome parks. The so-called "rental
Sen.Pat Johnston ,assistance" initiative would restrict and phase out local
Assem.Juanita McDonald
Sen.Jack O'Connell To volunteer to help, or for more information,
Sen. Mike Thompson call G.S.M.O.L. at : 1-800-888-1727 ID#940594
Assem.John Vasconcellos
government tools that slow skyrocketing rents for vanishing mobilehome spaces. It would
prohibit you from protecting vulnerable low-income and elderly households from rent-
gouging.
Several of the state's leading newspapers have already editorialized against this
misleading measure. The Santa Rosa Press-Democrat called it an "attack on local
democracy...(that) shows how the process can be hijacked by well-heeled interest
groups bent on undermining local government control..." (see enclosure). Other papers,
such as the Oxnard Press-Courier, the Ventura Star, The Hemet News, the Fremont Argus, the
Palm Springs Desert Sun and the Yucaipa News-Mirror, have also spoken out against the
measure. Enclosed please find some of their strong comments about the fraudulent
"rental assistance" initiative.
I have enclosed background materials that outline our objections to the measure, and
the consequences we anticipate if it passes. Inability to pay exorbitant rent increases is
forcing many low-income families and senior citizens to abandon one of the last
affordable ownership opportunities left -- mobilehomes. Senior citizens living on fixed-
incomes are losing their dream of quiet, golden years with reasonably stable housing
costs to spiraling rent for spaces in mobilehome parks. Mobilehome parks used to be
peaceful, affordable hideaways for those retirees who could afford to purchase a
mobilehome. But rents for spaces in mobilehome parks have escalated dramatically as
investors from other states and nations have joined domestic investors in a quest for a
"tripling of investment in seven years", as one solicitation put it.
The so-called "rental assistance" initiative would lead to massive rent increases, hardship
and eviction for senior citizens. Those closest to the problem know best how to address it
fairly. Local ordinances have been enacted only after lengthy hearings and
deliberations, and in many cases, voter approval. These protections are crucial to the
well-being of park residents. Local laws must remain in effect if these households are to
escape eviction.
We hope you will add your voice to those of other respected community leaders and
organizations that oppose the phony "rental assistance" initiative. The Oxnard Press-
Courier urged its readers to "Hold your nose" when considering this measure. We ask that
you hold your oppose this measure in order to oppose political fraud, retain local control,
prevent evictions of senior citizens, and preserve your community's tools to moderate
runaway rent increases. Please return the enclosed card today. Thank you very much for
your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
AVE HENNESSY
GSMOL State President
Enclosures: endorsement card, editorials, Q&A, flyer
r,-. • • - J
r.
T. P: :ONY - �
r.
sTop " RENTAL ASSISTANCE "
r . \NW INITIATIVE -�
r , DON'T BE FOOLED BY THE FRAUD! -J
r. HELP DEFEAT MOBILEHOME PARK LANDLORDS' RENT-GOUGING INITIATIVE! -J
r A REMEMBER PHILLIP MORRIS' "NO SMOKING" INITIATIVE? -J
HERE COMES SOMETHING EQUALLY MISLEADING!
r A -J
A FEW GREEDY PARK LANDLORDS SPENT $1 MILLION TO MISLEAD VOTERS INTO
SIGNING PETITIONS TO PUT THEIR SO-CALLED "RENTAL ASSISTANCE" INITIATIVE -
r ON THE MARCH 1996 STATEWIDE BALLOT. THE PARK OWNERS' RENT-GOUGING
INITIATIVE PRETENDS IT WILL HELP CALIFORNIA'S MOBILEHOME OWNERS. IN FACT, r
r IT WILL LEAD TO EVICTION OF THOUSANDS OF SENIOR CITIZENS!
r A CONSIDER THE FACTS:
r A ® Senior citizens own mobilehomes but rent mobilehome park spaces. These renters are under V
A
attack by greedy landlords who wish to raise space rents without limit. Park landlords have qualified
r an initiative to preempt local rent controls, exposing tens of thousands of senior citizens to rent- p
1 A gouging.
rA ® Living on fixed incomes, mobilehome park senior citizens -- many of them widows or -
widowers -- and low-income families would be left unable to pay massive rent hikes.
r
The measure phases out nearly 100 California counties',cities'and towns'rent protection laws
rthat safeguard vulnerable elderly mobilehome owners from rent-gouging.
.
® With few available mobilehome park spaces, mobilehome owners are held hostage to
rA whatever rent the landlords wish to charge. Those who cannot pay the rent forfeit what is usually -
their only asset: their homes. Park owners would end up owning many of these homes!
rA
PARK OWNERS SPENT $1 MILLION DOLLARS TO FOOL VOTERS INTO SIGNING A RENT-
GOUGING MEASURE THAT WOULD ABOLISH LOCAL RENT CONTROLS. AND THEY CALL
r A IT THE "RENTAL ASSISTANCE" INITIATIVE!
rA NOW THEY'LL SPEND MILLIONS MORE TO TRY TO REPEAL LOCAL RENT CONTROLS '
PASSED BY VOTERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS.
DON'T HELP THESE UNSCRUPULOUS OPERATORS.
Paid for by Golden State Mobilehome Owners League (GSMOL),
For more information, call: 1-800-888-1727
HERE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE LIES IN THE
LANDLORDS' INITIATIVE: I
r A It pretends to be "rental assistance", but actually takes that assistance away. 'J
It pretends to be fair rent protection, but actually eliminates rent protection.
rA It pretends to set guidelines, but prohibits enactment of any new mobilehome i J
park rent protection ordinance anywhere in California.
I. 1 . Why do we oppose the landlords' rent-gouging initiative? 'J
This measure is a fraud. While pretending to assist mobilhome renters, it actually would end
r. mobilhome rent protections and pave the way for economic eviction of thousands of senior ' J
citizens.
r' 'J
2. Who would be hurt by the landlords' rent-gouging initiative?
Senior citizens and low-income families across the state, especially where rent protections now r
r . exist, including: Alameda County, Arroyo Grande, Azusa, Calistoga, Capitola, Carpinteria,
Carson, Cathedral City, Chino, Clovis, Colton, Daly City, Escondido, Fairfield, Fontana, Fremont,
r. Fresno, Hemet, Indio, Lancaster, La Verne, Lompoc, Los Angeles City, Merced, Montclair, '
Moreno Valley, Morgan Hill, Morro Bay, Ontario, Oxnard, Palmdale, Palm Desert, Pomona,
rA Rancho Mirage, Redlands, Rialto, Riverside County, Rohnert Park, Salinas, San Bernardino, San r J
Jose, San Juan Capistrano, San Luis Obispo, San Marcos, Sta. Barbara, Sta. Clarita, Sta. Cruz
County, Sta. Paula, Sonoma County, Thousand Oaks, Union City, Upland, Vacaville, Vallejo, ,J
r. Ventura City and County, Watsonville and Yucaipa.
rA 3. What do neutral parties say about this measure? 'J
The Santa Rosa Press-Democrat called it an "attack on local democracy...[that] "shows how
r the process can be hijacked by well-heeled interest groups bent on undermining local govern- F J
ment control...[L]ocal democracy irritates the backers of the..initiative." (April 13, 1994).
r. JOIN THESE OPPONENTS: 'J
r. American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) California Council of Churches "J
California Democratic Party League of California Cities
rA Congress of California Seniors California Labor Federation, i J
AFL-CIO
r. 4. Doesn't this initiative provide some rental assistance to low-income ' J
mobilehome owners?
►J
r A The initiative takes away current rent protections and pretends by so doing to be helping, rather
than harming, mobilehome owners. The landlords' phony "assistance" is limited to ten percent
r of any park residents, and to a ten percent reduction below average rents in the park. If a park "
owner has raised the rent $100 per month, a cut of $10 is of little value!
I J
PLEASE DON'T BE MISLED-- J
HELP PROTECT OUR SENIOR CITIZENS !
GOLDEN STATE MOBIIHOME OWNERS LEAGUE, INC,
G
M Maurice A. Priest
^ LEGISLATIVE ADVOCATE •ATTORNEY AT LAW
L
"A Homeowners Association"
February 1, 1995
GSMOL OPPOSES THE MOBILEHOME RENTAL ASSISTANCE, h1OBILEHOME
RENT CONTROL RESTRICTIONS INITIATIVE
QUESTION: Why does GSMOL oppose the "Mobilehome Rent Assistance, Mobilehome
Rent Control Restrictions Initiative"?
ANSWER: GSMOL opposes the parkowner-sponsored "Mobilehome Rent Assistance,
Mobilehoma Rent Control Restrictions Initiative" because it would mean the
end to mobilehome rent control ordinances and rent regulation of mobilehome ••
spaces in California. The title of the initiative is extremely misleading because
it implies an initiative which sounds fair and reasonable when the effect of this
parkowner-sponsored initiative will actually be disastrous for mobilehome
owners in California.
QUESTION: How did parkowners get this initiative qualified to appear on the March 1996
ballot in California?
ANSWER: Parkowners paid professional signature gatherers, as much as $1.00 and more
for each signature they obtained on the initiative petition. Parkowners using
these paid professionals were able to narrowly gather enough signatures to
qualify the initiative for the Statewide ballot in California in March of 1996.
The initiative did not qualify because of grass-roots support, but simply
because enough parkowners were willing to spend enough money in an attempt
to end mobilehome rent regulation in California.
QUESTION: If I live in a city or county which already has a favorable mobilehome rent
control ordinance, would this initiative have any effect on the rent control law
which covers my space?
ANSWER: Yes. As drafted, the parkowner initiative would require that every existing
mobilehome rent control ordinance allow a full cost of living increase in your
rent each year. Even if the wording of your local ordinance allowed only fifty
percent of the CPI or seventy-five percent of the CPI as a rental increase under
•
the ordinance, this parkowner initiative would require that your city and county
allow a full cost of living increase in your rent every year.
QUESTION: If I live in a rent-control area which protects the buyer of my mobilehorne from
any unreasonable rental increase, would my ordinance be affected by passage
of this initiative9
ANSWER: Yes. As written, this initiative states that whenever you sell your mobilehome
there would not be any rent control on your space after the date of the sale.
A parkowner would be legally authorized to increase rent to your buyer and
your mobilehome space would no longer be covered by the local rent control
ordinance. As written, the initiative says that at the time of sale, transfer, or
sublease of your mobilehome, that any rent control ordinance covering your
space would terminate, and there would no longer be rent control covering
your space.
QUESTION: If the city or county where I live does not currently have a mobilehome
ordinance, but we are working to get an ordinance passed in the near future,
would this initiative in any way affect the ability of my city or county to adopt
a mobilehome rent control ordinance in the future?
ANSWER: Yes. If the initiative were to be passed by voters in the State of California, no
city or county ordinance would be legally entitled to pass a mobilehome rent-
control ordinance in the future.
QUESTION: Doesn't this initiative provide some rental assistance to low-income
mobilehome owners?
ANSWER: Yes. But the initiative sponsors have worded the "rental assistance" provision
so that you would be entitled to assistance only if you qualify under section
8 very low income guidelines. As written, the ordinance provides that by mid-
December of each year, if you believe you arc financially qualified under
section 8 very low income guidelines, you would have to submit written proof
of your income to the parkowner. If you qualify, the rental assistance would
only be a ten percent reduction below average rents then charged in your
mobilehome park. For example, if a parkowner has increased rents so that they
are $100 per month higher than they should be in your park, it is doubtful that
a ten percent reduction in rent would provide meaningful financial assistance
to the mobilehome owner who has limited income.
QUESTION: Does every mobilehome park in the State have to offer the rental assistance
as spelled out in the initiative?
2
ANSWER: No. As wrinen, the initiative says that if more than ten percent of the spaces
in a mobilehome park are covered by a rent control ordinance, the parkowner
does not have to offer the rental assistance at all.
QUESTION: If the initiative is passed and becomes law in California, how could it be
amended in the future?
ANSWER: This parkowner-sponsored initiative, if it becomes law, could only be amended
in the future by a two-thirds vote of the legislature and the approval of the
Governor. Therefore, passage of any amendments to the initiative would be
extremely difficult to obtain.
QUESTION: What can I do to defeat the "Mobilehome Rent Assistance, Mobilehome
Rent Control Restrictions Initiative"?
ANSWER: Read this question and answer flyer at your next GSMOL Chapter meeting and
at all district and zone meetings, Make sure that a copy of this questionnaire
is presented to each member of your city council and each supervisor in your
county. Ask that your city council and board of supervisors adopt a resolution
opposing the "Mobilehome Rent Assistance, Mobilehome Rent Control
Restrictions Initiative", because it will reduce the authority of your local
government to address local problems. Take a copy of this question and
answer draft to your local newspaper and radio stations and request that they
adopt a policy opposing this misleading initiative.
3
• . The Helmet IT
tell,*
One hundred-second year Number 174 Hemet, California c The Hemet News 1995 25c per copy CA. Sales Tax Induct
1996 ballot, claims it would help mobile home
Editorial renters by applying statewide rent control
standards. In reality, in areas like the San
Mobile home initiative Jacinto Valley which have strong local ordi-
not what it seems nances in place to assist renters, the only
victors would be park owners....
ome sage with an affinity for water But stripping a tool renters have to protest
fowl once said, "if it walks like a
duck and quacks like a duck, it
unfair rent increases will hurt everyone: The
renters, the community, and the park owners
must be a duck." That sage obvi- themselves. Without adequate local control and
ously never heard of California's rental assistance, a lot of people who have chosen
ballot initiative process.... to make the Valley their first or second home will
Right now there's a turkey of an initia- find someplace else more welcoming.
tive masquerading as a rent assistance initia- The worst thing about this initiative,
tive that does little to assist the renter, but a which is not yet numbered, is that it strips
whole lot to eliminate local control and make control from communities and gives it to a
it easier for park owners to raise rents. state,just when the voters have said they want
The initiative, certified for the March more local control over how they're governed.
May 21, 1995
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� ..: r� DEMOCRAT
Magic ci the �`�" �;
Santa Rosa.California,Thursday,April 13,1995 I38th Year.No.225, 50¢
A two-front attack of the smoking and rent control initiatives. They
figure they can spend enough to get their initia-
on local democracy
tives a place on the ballot, then spend another
pile of money to get them approved. It's money,
... [This] initiative shows how the process not grass-roots support, that rules.
can be hijacked by well-heeled interest groups Of course, voters still have a say. Initiative
bent on undermining local government control. ... backers need your ... votes. Tell them you're not
But local democracy irritates the backers selling.
April 13, 1995
SIM1
• Serving Simi Valley,Moorpark 25c.
EDITORIALS
Misplaced Initiative
SPECIAL INTERESTS: The measure also would impose a further burden
Owners of mobile home parks are latest to on local government, in trying to monitor mobile home
try to buy their way on the ballot. park rents. With rent restrictions applicable to only some
of the spaces in a park, while others are fair game for
.... -the California initiative petition system. ...has be- unrestricted increases, local agencies would find it a
come perverted into a means for special interests to bookkeeping task to keep track.
overcome popular will. Having failed to get the Legislature to pre-empt
The latest example is called the Mobilehome local authority over mobile home rents, the park owners
Rental Assistance - Rent Control and Restrictions Initia- now hope to achieve that by hoodwinking the public with
tive, with petitions being circulated by Californians for this self-serving initiative. By the use of paid petition
Mobilehome Fairness. This is a subtly misleading circulators, the park owners can get the measure on the
ballot, without any perceptible evidence of public sup-
name, since their "fairness is being sought -
and bought, via paid petition circulators - by Port.
That was not what Hiram Johnson had in mind
the owners of mobile home parks. when he proposed the petition system, but it has become
So the initiative would leave current a favorite ploy for special interests. The last time it was
mobile home tenants trapped where they are , tried- when the tobacco industry tried to get local smok-
until they die - leaving their heirs a legacy • ing ordinances pre-empted by a state initiative-
that, in practical terms, is neither movable nor California's voters rejected the measure,just as they
should the one on mobile homes.
sellable. April 17, 1995
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46
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Vol.38,Nurr; :r 32 Yucca Valley;California-(619)365-3315 2 sections-18 pages
Editorial
Mobilehome initiative If they read the body of it at all, the first thing
is all phoney baloney they saw was reference to rent assistance for "poor and
needy" residents of mobilehome parks.
A proposed new piece of legislation has made it Some mobilehome people allege that paid signa-
onto 1996 ballot. ture gatherers intentionally obscured the true intend of
It's officially called the Mobilehome Rent Assis- the statute.
tance, Mobilehome Rent Control Restrictions Initiative ...This "initiative" has already been
Statute. denounced by local governments and mobile-
Is it any wonder some of the people signing the home groups. The rest of us would do well to
petition to get it on the ballot were confused? follow in their footsteps. March 22, 1995
... .
w OXNARL) rier, .
ress uu
Hold your nose and "The Mobilehome Rental Assistance and Rent
hold your signature Control Restriction Initiative," [has qualified
for the March '96 election]. Those pushing the
ISSUE: The Mobilehome Rental Assistance and Rent initiative would tell you it's about fairness.
Control Restriction Initiative A ROSE by any other name would smell
as sweet and this ballot initiative by any other
OPINION: Don't judge this book by its cover. name would still stink.
April 4.1994
0 eArgus
,of FREMON NEWARK and UNION CITYCALIFORNIA
moo,--,
-lullvwwlw.A.2
EDITORIALS
Mobile home initiative would hurt elders
AN initiative measure that would elimi- is deceptive in that its real goal is to wipe out local
nate rent controls in mobile home rent control laws. It would allow mobile home
parks has qualified for park owners to charge whatever they want for the
the March 1996 ballot. space occupied by mobile home owners....
Californians should reject the initiative Mobile home park space is relatively
because it would supersede hundreds of local scarce,which is why mobile home owners,espe-
rent-control ordinances and would harm fixed cially those who are elderly and on fixed incomes,
income elderly mobile home owners who need need rent control. Otherwise,they will be priced
some kind of rent regulation. out of the housing market....
Called "The Mobile Home Fairness and
Rental Assistance Act," the proposal
May 24,1995
DWEDNESDAY
t
sun
Mobile home rent voters with a slick political advertising campaign,
presto! It's state law....
controls under attack A measure with the misleading title of"Rental
Assistance Initiative" has qualified for the ballot. It's
Big-money interests are behind a back-door attempt by groups representing mobile
initiative that would gut local home park owners to cut the heart out of local mobile
home rent control ordinances.
laws designed to protect tenants This measure isn't as propo-
nents claim, about fairness. It's
Special interests have to love California's
wide-open initiative process. It offers such a tempting about greed....
opportunity for an industry to enact laws that can Nearly 100 California communities. ... have
protect its own pocketbook. enacted mobile home rent control ordinances in
Just about any well-financed special response to exorbitant rent increases that literally
interest can get enough signatures collected to get threatened to force many residents from their
a measure on the ballot. And if they can sell it to homes.... May 10,1995