Chicoans get chippy at council meeting
Gaza advocates gaveled; mobile home residents find support
With the Chico City Council revisiting a hot-button issue, rents at mobile home parks, seniors filled many of the seats for Tuesday's meeting. Along the back wall stood other residents bringing back another heated topic: Gaza.
The latter came away disgruntled, the former encouraged.
Mayor Andrew Coolidge enforced the council policy limiting public comments to topics within the city's jurisdiction, which he said does not include “ceasefires and wars in other countries.” He redirected the first speaker, Rain Scher, then called a recess when another advocate for a ceasefire resolution, Chris Nelson, did not heed his admonition.
When the council returned, Coolidge advised the audience that a recurrence would prompt another recess — and a third would clear the chamber. The final speaker, Yahmo Ahqha, criticized “the rules of purview” he contrasted with other cities, adding: “We're supposed to be telling you how to represent us. … You have very special rules that are very undemocratic.”
When Ahqha started a call and response of “free free Palestine,” Coolidge adjourned the meeting again and declared the speaker “out of order.” When councilors reconvened, the back of the room had emptied.
Mobile home comments got emotional, as well, with hardy residents waiting two hours for their chance to speak. Councilors reached consensus on exploring options once staff returns with more information.
Tuesday's agenda also featured reviews of the Downtown Chico Business Association's 12-month progress report; a proposal allowing alcohol at private events in City Plaza; and a policy for allocating Fire Victim Trust funds.
Mobile home parks hit councilors' consciousness in the fall after Pleasant Valley Mobile Estates in north Chico announced a 30% hike in space rents following 10% increases the previous two years. The owner subsequently reduced the rise to 10%, but residents of that park and others asked the council to consider adopting a rent stabilization ordinance.
The council referred the matter to its Internal Affairs Committee, which heard from affected seniors during the March 4 meeting. Neither committee chair Tom van Overbeek nor Vice Mayor Kasey Reynolds seconded a motion from Councilor Addison Winslow to recommend the council weigh an ordinance, so the item came back to the full council with no suggested course of action.
Janet Olsen, a resident of a park outside city limits, spoke to the cumulative effect of annual increases on seniors with fixed incomes. Julie Threet clashed with
the mayor on the scope of her comments, nearly precipitating a third recess; comments continued unabated from the final 11 speakers.
Celeste Macklin held back tears as she described her plight. Al Johnson said the age of his unit precludes moving it to another park in any county — “my mobile home is no longer mobile.” Mary Carlisle told councilors, “You up there have a unique opportunity to protect not hundreds, but thousands of people in the city of Chico.”
Planning Commission
Chair Larry Wahl, a former councilor and county supervisor, added his voice in support: “Free market is the American way — predatory pricing is not part of the free market.” Climate Action Commissioner Bryce Goldstein echoed the call for rent stabilization.
Saulo Londono of the Western Manufactured Housing Communities Association said the California Legislature is working on rent stabilization for mobile homes. “This is an emotional issue but also a complicated issue,” he concluded.