[Name]
[Title]
[City or County Name]
[Email Address] | [Phone Number]
[Date]
The Honorable [Name]
California State [Assembly or Senate]
State Capitol, Room [Room Number]
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: Support for SB 749 (Allen) – Mobile Home Parks: Cessation, Closure or Change in Use Dear {{Name}}:
I am writing on behalf of the City of Cotati to express our city’s strong support for SB-749 authored by Senator Ben Allen. This critical legislation seeks to protect mobilehome parks at risk of closure or conversion by establishing a “right of first refusal” for resident organizations, HCD-qualified nonprofit housing organizations, and public agencies.
SB-749 would provide a pathway to preserve the affordable housing provided by mobile home parks in our city. Mobilehome parks are the largest source of unsubsidized affordable housing in the state, providing essential homes for older adults and low-income residents. Cotati has demonstrated a strong commitment to preserving these parks, a priority reflected in our adopted Housing Element. However, mobilehome communities remain increasingly vulnerable to closure. Nearby cities such as Petaluma, which is home to over 1,000 mobilehome residents, are also experiencing these pressures—underscoring the regional significance of this issue.
SB-749 builds upon the foundation of California’s Preservation Notice Law, which requires notice and opportunity to preserve affordable housing before it is converted to market rate. This bill would prohibit the closure or change of use of a mobilehome park without first giving residents, public agencies, or qualified nonprofit purchasers at least 9 months notice and an opportunity to acquire the property at fair market value. This approach provides a critical tool for preserving affordability while discouraging the use of closure threats as a means of pressuring residents or local governments, a tactic seen recently in several mobile home parks in at Country Side Mobile Home Park in Cotati, and nearby mobilehome parks in Petaluma.
SB-749 offers a thoughtful, balanced solution that empowers local communities and residents to preserve a vital housing resource. I respectfully urge your support for this important bill as it moves through the legislative process.
Sincerely,