AB566 Vetoed

Many of you have already heard the bad news.  Schwarzenegger vetoed AB566 yesterday, saying he didn't like the idea that cities could take the views of residents into consideration and turn down a conversion if most residents oppose it -- even if ALL residents oppose it. 

So what's next?  Expect the park owners and their lawyers Close and Loftin to step up conversions of mobilehome parks in cities and counties with mobilehome rent control.  Cities, stung by recent court defeats, will be reluctant to put up much resistance. Look for rent control ordinances to be watered down (and rents to increase) -- park owners will say 'gimme a big rent increase or I'll do a condo conversion and be exempted from rent control altogether." Mobile home resale values will continue to decline -- potential buyers will ask "why buy a home in a park where it could convert to condo's tomorrow."

What can be done? As Mother Jones said, "Don't mourn. ORGANIZE!." She was talking about labor unions, but the same applies in mobilehome parks. The most effective way for residents to protect their rights is to have a strong residents' association. Your residents association can stand up to park owners who try to convert to condo's.  There are still legal protections for residents, but these only work if residents in a park work together to assert their rights. Condo conversions must still be approved by local governments, and local governments can and should insure that no residents will be displaced by condo conversion.

A strong residents' association can help get good city council members elected -- members who will stand up for the rights of mobilehome residents.  It can and should work COOPERATIVELY with other residents' associations in the county and in Sacramento to help get laws like AB566 passed, and protect rent control.  We have two strong state-wide groups - COMO-CAL and GSMOL - that worked day and night to get AB566 and AB1542 passed. These groups need your support (and member dues).  Their officials and lobbyists don't do this work for money -- most are volunteers trying to protect their families and friends and fellow mobilehome residents.

Schwarzenegger vetoed AB566 this year and AB1542 two years ago. In a year, there'll be a new governor (and some new legislators). We need to make sure the next legislature will PASS a condo conversion bill that provides real protections for the one million Californians who live in mobilehomes, and we need to get a governor elected who will SIGN the bill.  DON'T MOURN, ORGANIZE!

David Grabill
Law Office of David Grabill
1930 Alderbrook Lane
Santa Rosa, CA 95405
(707) 528 6839 - voice
(707) 780 1585 - fax
dgrabill@gmail.com