Preview:
NOVATO, Calif. - Residents of a major affordable mobile home park in Novato say they are continuing a decades-long fight to keep their community in their own hands. The 400 residents who live in the 311 homes that comprise the Marin Valley Mobile Country Club fear losing their community and are now receiving assistance from You Are the Power, a nationwide tax-exempt organization that uses social media to help citizens navigate local government disputes.
What was promisedThe backstory:
Three decades ago, the city of Novato floated bonds to support low-income, affordable housing. The agreement dictated that residents would pay for all...
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“Couldn't be in writing at the time, but we were promised that at the end of this transaction, when the bonds were retired, that we would be transferred the park for the benefit of the residents into a nonprofit corporation," said David Kenyon, who served as the residents' attorney and broker when the original deal was reached.
Hmmm, “couldn’t be in writing at the time”? It seems pretty odd for a legal document to not talk about that. In fact, the reason it’s not in there – I’m willing to bet – is that there was actually no such agreement to begin with. I sort of doubt you can walk into court and say “your honor, there’s absolutely no evidence of this, but we were told that we would get $30 million one day …” and have any hope of success.
Instead, the judge will surely say “and another park bites the dust” and then slam down the gavel.