PROPOSITION 199 DEVASTATES SENIOR CITIZEN MOBILEHOME OWNERS.
Thousands of widows, widowers and other seniors will face loss of their mobilehomes.
400,000 Californians (mostly senior citizens) own mobilehomes, but not the land they sit on. They rent a small slice of bare land from a park owner. Unlike apartment tenants, they own their homes. Some monthly space rents are higher than Social Security and retirement income. Senior mobilehome owners are trapped when rents increase. It costs $10,000 to move the mobilehome, and available spaces are scarce. Homeowners must either pay the rent or lose their homes. Mobilehome owners who can't pay escalating space rents lose their equity and their homes.
PROPOSITION 199 LETS MOBILEHOME PARK LANDLORDS RAISE RENTS WITHOUT LIMITS.
Without local rent protections, unlimited rent increases can be heaped upon captive homeowners. An 83-year-old Los Angeles widow, faces the loss of her home of 20 years. Since L.A. County's rent control ordinance expired, her rent has risen to $845 per month, while her Social Security check totals only $783. She faces eviction, repossession of her home, and total disruption of her final years.
Under Proposition 199, tens of thousands of widows and seniors will face the loss of their homes.
A ``no'' vote on Proposition 199 helps her keep her home.
The AARP, Legislative Council for Older Americans and Congress of California Seniors recommend that you vote ``no''.
Please vote no on the ``Widows Eviction Initiative''.
PROPOSITION 199 TAKES AWAY RENTAL ASSISTANCE FROM SENIORS.
Don't be misled. Proposition 199 removes mobilehome rent protections.
Proposition 199's sponsors are mobilehome park landlords who want to raise mobilehome rents without limit, whenever they choose.
Proposition 199's so-called ``rental assistance'' is a farce.
It gives a 10% discount on rents park owners alone determine.
What good is a 10% discount after rents have risen 50% ?
Few, if any, seniors will get the ``subsidy''.
Don't be fooled by the fraud.
Remember the tobacco industry's fraudulent ``No Smoking'' initiative?
Proposition 199 is just as phony.
Proposition 199 would wipe out more than $300 million in seniors' home equity.
For every $10 rent increase, mobilehome equity is likely to decrease by approximately $1,000.
Proposition 199 would raise rents, wiping out hundreds of millions in seniors' home equity.
Senior citizens would be irreparably harmed.
PROPOSITION 199 GIVES POWER TO SACRAMENTO POLITICIANS, AND TAKES IT AWAY FROM LOCAL VOTERS.
Proposition 199 phases out over 80 local initiatives and laws--laws passed by voters and local officials.
Proposition 199 prohibits local voters from ever passing another mobilehome rent protection law.
It gives the State Legislature all power over mobilehome rents.
Don't give more power to Sacramento politicians!
Proposition 199 wouldn't put a single police officer on the street.
Mobilehome rent protections are funded by fees paid by mobilehome and park owners. They cost taxpayers very little.VOTE NO ON PROPOSITION 199.
DAVE HENNESSY
President, Golden State Mobilhome Owners
League (GSMOL)
MARY TUCKER
State Legislative Committee Chair,
American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
LOIS WELLINGTON
President, Congress of California Seniors