Beginning in 2011, the Ranch park owner threatened the City with legal action to raise the space rents by 500%.  At the time, the average income at Ranch was $956/month. Ranch was constructed under an agreement with the City that Ranch would be a very low-income senior park 62 years of age and over in return for the owner to build and upscale park called Thunderbird.  The original owner, being of a generation which kept their word, told residents that their rent would only increase over his dead body.  Well, that indeed happened when he passed and his greedy children took over.

For over 30 years, Ranch operated under an ordinance separate from other senior parks to reflect the agreement’s terms.  Ordinance 84-037 designated Ranch as low-income senior housing 62 and over and was registered as such with the State of California under the mandatory “Housing Element” as never being subject to market rates.  The City summarily removed Ranch from the Housing Element with out notice or comment.

Now enter the children of the deceased owner of Ranch demanding market space rental rates for Ranch residents. City appointed a Rent Control Commission (RAC) to rule on whether or not the City could revoke 84-037. Ranch residents created an informal group with retired attorney Vic Abrunzo dubbed Association of Ranch Tenants (ART) to represent residents at the RAC.  Attorney Chandra Spencer took on the resident’s case pro bono.   By a 3 to 2 vote, Ranch residents lost despite the overwhelming evidence presented by ranch attorney Chandra Spencer.

Note that the Ranch was built as a trailer park.  It has no lot spaces nor amenities meeting the requirements of a mobile home park. 

At the urging of attorney Spencer, Senior Alliance for Empowerment (SAFE) was formally incorporated to protect residents from retaliation by the City and/or the park owner.  Founders:  Kathryn Goodspeed, James Wolf, Vic Abrunzo, Barbara Brown and Margaret Riggs.  Kathy and Barbara came up with the name which represents the underserved elderly community.  Residents joined SAFE in a class action suit against the City and park owner.  Again, pro bono attorneys prosecuted the case on behalf of the residents.  Lester Brown of Perkins-Coie and Patsy Van Dyke of Bet Tzedek; joined by Chandra Spencer, Western Law and California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA).  Lester Brown assumed lead attorney.  Pro bono attorneys were arranged by Jim and Kathy.

Now comes the then Mayor Andrew Fox, a legend in his own mind.  Fox concocted the idea that all senior parks must fall under the same ordinance.  Fox proposed a mediation between the 5 senior park mobile home residents and the City.  Jim Wolf and Valerie Hopkins represented Ranch.  In the very first meeting, the park representatives were handed a Non-disclosure Agreement.  Ranch reps were told they could not even mention their still operative ordinance 84-037.  Further, Ranch attorney Chandra Spencer could not speak with her clients about the proceedings.  This could well cost Chandra her license to practice law!  Jim and Chandra confronted then City attorney Ami Albano about changing the wording.  She said no, and that we could not participate, thereby throwing Ranch reps off the mediation.  Fox then continued picking two women with no experience in negotiations to go up against the city Mayor and the City attorney. They were, of course, very malleable.  Note that Ranch was thrown out of the mediation but the City continued to lie saying Ranch walked out.

Toward the end of the mediation, Fox insisted on speaking directly with members of the SAFE Board in an effort to avoid the litigation.  For all other parks, the City agreed to a rent increase of $100/month spread over 6 years ($16.66 per year).  And, in absence of Ranch reps, decided on and increase of $191.95/month spread over 7 years (27.42 per year).  In this meeting, Fox said he would give Ranch the same deal other parks agreed to.  SAFE Board said we will consider it.  (But would not accept it, pending litigation against the City). 

Already fixed on the demands of the park attorneys, Fox would listen to no other solutions.  Ranch residents proposed that they purchase the park and Bank of America would finance the purchase.  This fell on deaf ears even though the City would have saved over 1 million dollars in costs while pursuing their defense.

Residents learned during the RAC hearings that the attorneys for the park owners were working in City Hall for months and were on first name basis with the City’s attorneys and staff members. It was very obvious that the books were already cooked.

The attorneys arranged by SAFE entered a class action lawsuit against the City to enforce the 30 year old ordinance.  The City demanded that the Class also sue the park owner for relief.  The City hired attorneys from Ventura to fight the old folks.  The case was held at the Ventura Municipal Court.  Kent Killegrew was assigned the case, he was promoted from traffic court due to judge shortages.  Here the class learned about the good ole boys network as the lawyers and judges cavort together.

The City attorneys were mere spectators.  Meanwhile, the hired attorneys milked the City for all it was worth.  In the end, the City admitted to spending ¾ of a million dollars on legal fees.  In reality, it was more like $1,500,000. Needless to say, the Class lost round one.

Meanwhile, Les Brown negotiated a settlement with the Ranch park owner.  The park owner did not want the ordeal of a trial.  Settlement resides in the SAFE archives.
Essentially, the class was those residing at Ranch under 84-087 as of 2011.  Those residents accepted a total rent increase of $119 spread over seven years, considerable less than the park owner’s demand of a $600 increase.  Further, except for CPI increases, no further rent increases are allowed for as long as the resident remains in their home or until the home is sold.  The settlement can be passed on to any person living with the title holder or their “of age” child.  It should be noted that Ranch rents were ridiculously low due to the generosity of the original owner.  The settlement brought space rents to $260/month.  This was a fantastic job by Les Brown!  The City (Fox) refused to negotiate a settlement.

Class lead attorney Les Brown filed an appeal to Killegrew’s ruling.  Enter John Taylor of the highly respected firm of Horvitz & Levy, appeal attorneys.  There were two hearings.  The first was led by a sympathetic judge and was not resolved.  The second was led by a different judge who was not at all sympathetic.  Thus, Ranch residents lost again.  The only recourse was to appeal to the State Supreme Court where there was a reasonable chance of victory.  As Les Brown and his wife Patsy Van Dyke invested personal money and an immense amount of time, Ranch agreed to drop the matter rather than test the verdict at the State Supreme Court.

From there, the City enacted RSO 1559-NS.  Any reading of the ordinance makes it apparent that the park attorneys wrote the ordinance!

Voting against their constituents and for the out of town park owner were, Andrew Fox, Jacqui Irwin and Dennis Gillette.  One member was absent.  Only Claudia Bill de la Pena voted in favor of the elderly Ranch residents.  Irwin held the deciding vote and voted against her constituents and in favor of Fox and the park owners.  With her vote, Irwin stated, “I hope someone will help these poor people.”

Jim and Kathy went to work to change the face of City Council sitting in Al Adam’s home making phone calls and other efforts to elect more friendly members.  This effort was successful and subsequent Councils have been most supportive of SAFE as has the City Staff.  Gayle Heninger, Bill Ochs and Gina Heninger joined the SAFE Board.

Now SAFE sits with an empty shell corporation.  All registered and a 501c3 nonprofit charity supported by funding from Kathy Goodspeed, Jim Wolf and Vic Abrunzo to the tune of over $5,000.  Kathy said SAFE should apply for government grants for the benefit of all the residents of the five senior parks.  Right, said Jim, a shell with no assets or record of administering grants.  So, SAFE applied to the City for a CDBG grant.  Sure enough, SAFE received a regrets letter.  However, during the Council meeting, Al Adam asked why SAFE did not receive funds. The next year (2016) SAFE applied for $138,000 and received the entire request!  2017 = $145,000, 2018 = Covid,

2019 = $138,000, 2020 = $200,000, 2021 = $75,000, 2022 = $47,000, 2023 = $175,000, and 2024 = $125,000. 

Caroline Milton was our first overseer of SAFE’s grant along with Lynn Oshita.  Carolyn retired after our second year.  Lynn has been our rock ever since.  Sadly, the City never provided her with any assistant so she is grossly overworked.  With Caroline, we negotiated a de minimus10% admin fee.  The City has since reneged on the deal and now SAFE can only recover direct costs which are at the mercy of the City.  This means SAFE is subsidizing the Federal Government.  Since SAFE is a 100% voluntary charity, virtually all costs are indirect.

Change as time marches on.  Margaret Riggs passed away.  Barbara Brown retired to Washington State with her daughter.  Age has caught up with Kathy and Jim.  SAFE was either dissolved or new younger blood had to take over.  Great news happened as Rich Sauer was elected President of SAFE in 2023.  Rich is doing a great job in moving SAFE forward and has added Kathryn Cornelison, and Michael Radonic to the Board of Directors.  More good news as Anna Merriman has been added to SAFE to conduct financial management.

TO BE CONTINUED…..

Be SAFE!
Jim

SAFE is a 100% volunteer nonprofit organization. Because our administrative costs are minimal, every donation directly benefits our target demographic.