I would like to respond to the letter published in the Record-Bee on April 5 authored by an owner of a North Lakeport trailer park.
I would like to contradict the misguided opinion of this co-owner — and I quote “What is needed and what is good for the seniors living in Lake County.” Many have settled here to live out their remaining years with the expectation of being able to live independently in an area which provides affordable housing. They have left their family and friends in the “high cost” cities, and up to now were able to plan as well as budget their limited resources (many on Social Security alone).
Park Owners have an investment in the land, true; however, their choice of investment also provides them with an income while the land continues to appreciate at the highest rate ever.
This so-called “investment” is also a Business for them, and as such not only provides a great source of income (a return on their investment), but it provides an abundance of tax write-offs against that income as operating and maintenance expenses (the cost of doing business).
Complaints by these owners as to maintenance costs make no sense. The homeowner (space renter) has none of these benefits. If you owned this land without a space renter, then who provides you with your “cash cow.” What would be your source of income? Who is the winner here? How about a little consideration for your providers?
With references to the need for “professional management,” that too, is a direct cost of doing business, and would be written off against income a basic business practice.
“Long Term Leases” are not the answer to those who do not have a “long term life expectancy.” We live in the here and the now. Rent stabilization and Affordable Housing is the “Long Term Answer” for us. Owner”s contentions that it would cost in excess of $1 million to administer such a program is nonsense. Lake County is lagging behind most of the counties in California who have successfully provided fair housing and rent stabilization ordinances.
It was noted that you are representing a “trailer park.” Trailers and some “mobiles” can be hooked-up and moved on down the highway to another affordable spot. The large Mobile Home and Manufactured Home Owners in most of the Lake County Parks have no such option. If the rent rises above the homeowner”s ability to afford, they must just try to sell at a loss, or walk away with nothing.
I would like to point out that without park residents, who pay for a temporary piece of the borrowed land, that park ownership would be superfluous.. We can all be winners here if greed is not the motivating force. Many seniors choose to live in park communities because they are alone and unable to maintain a property due to physical incapacities, as well as to enjoy the security of having neighbors close by.
Closing with a quote about greed from Thomas Aquinas, “It is a sin directly against one”s neighbor, since one man cannot over-abound in external riches, without another man lacking them.”
Irma Alexander
Lakeport
