One man's story, is another man's shame...

My wife and I went to the market Saturday and when we returned she mentioned to me how much she loves our home. As we walked in the door she then said almost in a whisper, "I hope we don't lose our home." This made me think about how hard we have worked, how much we have sacrificed to get this place. It made me think about how every year we have to pay more and more just to stay here. Her sad whisper made me think that although we don't have a whole lot, what we do have in this home is just as important to us as any rich man's mansion is to him.

I picked up my daughter and gave her a hug thinking I was hiding my pain. I tried to think of some words that might comfort my wife. I could find none.

Rumors were going around the park this weekend about another eviction and letters threatening legal action being sent to some residents by Mobile Community Management.

62%-38%

Prop. 98 was voted down by voters on Tuesday.

62% no...38% yes.

Ouch! That had to have hurt.

Words of wisdom from Jeffrey A. Kaplan???

"For most people, their house is the most valuable asset they have and in this time of recession, the last thing people need is an additional economic loss in their house..." (Jeffrey A. Kaplan from a Bel-Air Association Blog post, January 27 , 2008)

I whole-heartedly agree with Jeffrey in this quote even though he was addressing an entirely different situation. Why should this statement be valid only to Jeffrey Kaplan's argument regarding opposition to the mansionization ordinance in Bel-Air and not valid to our argument regarding opposition to Prop. 98. Seems a bit hypocritical to me.

In our case, if Proposition 98 is passed by voters this June then additional economic losses will be had by all California mobile home owners. This is why it is so extremely important that we get the word out to everyone we know to VOTE NO ON PROP. 98! Call or write everyone you know and explain how devastating the passage of this proposition will be for 1000's of mobile home owners and apartment dwellers in California. Speak with your relatives...inform them of this 'Hidden Agenda' scheme and what it could do to you. You can make a difference...just tell them to VOTE NO ON PROP. 98!

Thanks for the quote Jeffrey, I couldn't have said it better myself. Let's do lunch.

For your reading pleasure....

Here's an article that you might find interesting. When reading it keep in mind that both research and practical experience have shown that the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior.

C.A. Upholds Penalties for Evading Mobile Home Rent Control

and....

Defendants Pay Landmark Judgment in Mobile Home Rent Control Case; Tenants Receiving Over $960,000

Pro Prop 98 Propaganda

I heard a pro Proposition 98 radio advertisement last Friday and it really made me want to puke. It began with children talking about how they were afraid that government was going to take away their schools, parks and homes or something to that effect. Throughout the whole advertisement, there was not one mention of doing away with rent control although this is one of its main objectives.

It seems that Prop. 98 proponents now need to hide their true agenda behind children. They need to cloud the voters vision of what their proposition is really about. They are counting on voters to not be fully informed by taking the time to read their ballots. They are counting on voters not to understand that the approval of Proposition 98 would do away with rent control.

Does this method sound at all familiar to you? Am I the only one who sees the similarities between the presentation of this ballot measure to the public and the manner in which our long term leases were presented to us? IMHO, they are very similar.