Vista del Monte mobile home rent increases

Led a coordinated presentation by ten park residents, reporting the sale to Harmony International, rent jumps over 70% for some, and $885/month for new tenants, and asking the council for help protecting senior residents.

Explained 'site dependence': homeowners own their homes but not the land, so moving costs $10,000–$30,000 and older homes can't be relocated — leaving seniors no bargaining power against rent hikes.

Seventeen-year resident described her rent rising from $385 in 2020 to $520 after the sale — an 18% single jump — and new 90-day increase cycles, against a Social Security COLA of about $37 a month.

Walked through two real household budgets showing a single senior left with $155/month of cushion and a senior couple running $90/month in the red.

Explained the state Mobile Home Residency Law doesn't cap rents, that the new 5% state cap is a floor too high for fixed incomes, and that cities like San Rafael, Santa Rosa, Goleta, and Carson have upheld local rent stabilization ordinances.

Told the story of 'Maria,' an 82-year-old widow $80 short each month, describing the human cost of displacement for park residents.

Presented research showing over 100 California jurisdictions have mobile home rent stabilization, ordinances tied to CPI have survived court challenge, and Sanger could adapt a model ordinance quickly.

Laid out the specific ask: direct the city attorney to draft an ordinance mirroring the state 5%/CPI cap as a starting point, mobile-home-only, with capital improvement pass-throughs and hardship provisions.

Closed the group's presentation with three asks: acknowledge the concerns, direct the city attorney to draft an ordinance within 60 days, and commit to public workshops — telling the council residents will remain organized.

Shared that her late mother on a fixed income could never have afforded $800-plus rents, urging the council to seriously consider the seniors' situation.

Briefly reinforced the seniors' testimony, saying corporations are taking over from people who 'built America,' and asked the council to help.