SanteePatch reports from Santee, California that the city’s 12 manufactured housing communities account for 12 percent of all the homes in this town just east of San Diego. Seven of the MHCs are 55+ communities, and in 1989 the city enacted a rent control ordinance which has been successfully upheld. In early June, 2012, MHProNews has learned the Santee Manufactured Home Fair Practices Commission denied a request by Cameron’s Mobile Estates to more than double site rents because the Santee Community Development Commission determined the MHC owner had not proved the need to raise rents, even though Cameron’s has the lowest rents in town. Cameron’s spokesman, Jim Mohham, said, “They ignored the glaring fact that our net income in 2010 is below our net income in 1989.The commission is charged with ensuring that park owners are treated fairly. In my opinion, they ignored the facts and failed in their duty.” At one time the city subsidized low-income residents of MHCs with $100 a month but that funding is no longer available. Santee Mayor Randy Voepel, who has long defended many of the residents because they are on fixed incomes and could not afford $50 more a month, much less the $422.19 or more each month on average that the Cameron family is asking, says, “The Cameron family has kept their rents low for many, many years. If the rent is too low and the formula allows, they may well be able to raise it.” In a prepared statement, according to utsandiego, Moxham says, “The continued deterioration of Cameron’s Mobile Estates (Park) financial position necessitates the request… The family does not seek any repayment of the millions of dollars in lost rent over the last 21 years.” The city council is expected to tackle the issue before year’s end.

(Photo credit: John Gastaldo/utsandiego)