blighted condition

Within the last week, our park management has engaged in a frenzy of landscaping improvements around the clubhouse.  I suppose this is in preparation of the sugar-coating we will see during the community meeting between management and residents.  If you plan on attending this meeting prepare yourself to watch management pat themselves on the back for all the improvements they have made in this park.  Be prepared to listen to them claim that they are not responsible for the parks deteriorating conditions. Be prepared for management to ask you to point the finger at your friends and neighbors for the problems we have in our park.  


I recently found a web site with a letter posted from one of our park owners, Jeffrey Kaplan, to the City of Los Angeles.  I found the following paragraph particularly interesting:

"I.  Aesthetics:   Potentially Significant Impact.  The proposed ordinance would potentially degrade the existing visual character and quality of LA City hillside properties and surroundings areas as, for example, certain undeveloped lots and potions of lots will be required to remain in its "natural state" as opposed to being improved with new landscaping and development appropriate and consistent with currently existing area homes and properties.  By way of example, currently graded or ungraded lots (i.e., fenced and unfenced vacant lots consisting of little more than dirt and weeds) would potentially remain in a blighted condition as compared to being beautified, utilized and developed."



Jeffrey Kaplan is talking about multimillion dollar properties located in Los Angeles but he mentions some conditions that sound quite familiar to residents who live in Tatum Kaplan owned mobile home parks.  "By way of example, currently graded or ungraded lots (ie., fenced and unfenced vacant lots consisting of little more than dirt and weeds) would potentially remain in a blighted condition as compared to being beatified, utilized and developed."  There you have it!!!  Straight from Jeffrey Kaplan's keyboard.  According to this paragraph composed by Jeffrey Kaplan, "Vacant lots consisting of little more than dirt and weeds" are representative of "blighted conditions."  With this in mind, look at the following pictures and ask yourself why this quote would not apply to us.  Why would his description of "blighted conditions" apply only to vacant lots in Beverly Hills or Bel-Air but not to his mobile home parks in Upland, Santa Ana, El Monte, etc.?


Look at the following pictures...pictures of vacant lots and abandoned homes and tell me why anyone would believe we are not living in a park filled with "blighted conditions."  

Dead grass and foliage...a fire hazard in our recent heat spell or from a carelessly discarded cigarette.

Vacant, unimproved lots that sit in this state for years with "little more than dirt and weeds."

Dead leaves clutter this lot, again another fire and/or health and safety hazard.

 Three vacant lots right next to each other with weeds and rubble.

So go to the "community meeting" and keep all this in mind as park management tries to spin things in their favor.  Speak up and let them know what you think of them and their questionable business practices.  Remember...Residents should not fear their park owners, park owners should fear their residents.