Letters to the editor for April 16

Thanks for column on affordable mobile home ownership

I was moved by Anna Schlecht’s April 2 column about housing for seniors and the at-risk group who own mobile homes. Big corporations buy out mobile home communities and immediately raise rents, putting low-income tenants at risk for homelessness.

Some mobile home park residents have overcome this threat by purchasing their parks. One stumbling block is the daunting task of creating a corporation, cooperative, HOA, etc. and financing such an endeavor. Residents can be overwhelmed at the complexity and feel powerless.

The other problem is a lack of legislation requiring a specific amount of time a landlord must notify tenants of their intent to list or sell the property. They must notify the tenants, but a time requirement is lacking. A quick reading of RCW 59.20.300 did not reveal a specific time frame. Several states require at least 120 days notice of “intent” to sell. Without a specific time — say, 120 days advance notice of intent to sell — a park can be listed and sold before the tenants are notified.

The first issue has an advocate with the Northwest Cooperative Development Center here in Olympia. They have the expertise to help tenants organize and purchase their mobile home communities.

The second issue can be addressed by contacting the representative for each district to modify RCW 59.20.300 to include the requirement to give at least 120 days notice before the mobile home park is listed, or put up for sale.

Thanks, Ms. Schlecht, for bringing this issue this to light.

Mary Wisehart, Olympia

We have better choices than the RFA

I am surprised that The Olympian endorsed the new Regional Fire Authority (RFA) considering all the flaws they pointed out.

Let’s start with “…. no immediate improvements in service, no new fire stations and no new equipment.” So we’re expected to spend an additional $10.5M and get no benefits from the money? “An average-sized single-family home would pay anywhere from $380 to $450 a year … guaranteed to make most homeowners groan.” Absolutely.

As The Olympian states, “Both cities currently have strong fire departments with good mutual aid agreements.” Thus there’s no urgency, allowing time for much better choices. For example, with a simple levy lid lift of 25 cents, far less than the proposed new fee, we could hire 18 firefighters plus buy a fire engine every year, plus pay for Olympia’s new CARES program, which usually handles low acuity patients or those who are struggling with psychiatric or behavioral issues or have social support needs. That program will relieve pressure on the fire department.

The only benefit that the paper can point to is that the proposal raises a lot of money with the ability to raise even more. That’s because the new fee can be increased up to four times the initial amount without a public vote. It’s this ability to raise the new Fire Benefit Charge that makes the RFA “sustainable” and “stable,” nice flowery words that actually mean the RFA’s ability to collect bigger fees.

We all want to support our firefighters and fire departments. So vote no and tell the cities to send us a proposal that actually does some good for the fire department.

Pat Cole, Olympia

Why I’m voting yes for firefighters and EMS on April 25

Besides spending almost two years of my life meeting every two weeks to create a viable solution for firefighters and EMS to better serve our community, build our future, and be proactive rather than reactive, I’m voting yes to help community members like my mother.

When my mother falls, she refuses to call 911. She’s embarrassed and doesn’t want all the attention. If the RFA passes, more seniors and YOU will have access to the CARES program (which serves as a hospital diversion program, providing support for seniors and people who are vulnerable or disabled who are in crisis). Also, if the RFA passes, seniors living in manufactured home parks and subsidized housing won’t pay anything.

This plan supports our community. This plan supports our seniors. This plan supports our firefighters and EMS workers. This plan supports our cities. Please vote yes with me. Let’s lead the way, shaping the future together.

Leatta Dahlhoff, Tumwater