Ridgeview rent strike turns elected officials' heads
NEWFANE — In the wake of a continuing rent strike at Ridgeview Manufactured Homes Park, elected officials have lent an ear to the concerns of residents there and in other nearby manufactured home parks.
In the meantime, though, Sharon Ruth, president of Ridgeview’s home association, said she and her neighbors are “treading water and reaching out to anyone and everyone.”
As a fully formed home association with an attorney, Ruth and others have been documenting grievances against Cook Properties, New York state’s largest manufactured home park owner. Currently a class action lawsuit is being discussed, and additional Cook-owned properties are being encouraged to join the rent strike, which began in May after alleged sore points at Ridgeview were not addressed.
With the various obstacles of being directed office to office, mailing letters and calling to complain but not getting anywhere, Ruth did not expect that the Niagara County of Department of Health would come calling.
Paul Dicky, director of the environmental health division, told the Union-Sun & Journal that staff responded to complaints at Ridgeview on Aug. 9 and Aug. 10 and tested the water quality at six locations in the park. The verdict was: the water is of “passing” quality and there are no standing water or sewage issues on the property.
Health workers did find electrical boards in disarray, however, and many potholes that need fixing or filling by park management. Water pressure got a passing grade, though 20 psi (pounds per square inch) does feel low to most people, Dicky said.
Dicky said the health department did not check for potentially dead or dangerous trees.
In response, Ruth said she’s not trying to pick a fight with the health department but she would like to see “advanced” water testing done by an independent lab.
“We had two residents with medical records of being sick from water-based bacteria, one of whom passed away,” she said. “And three more with symptoms. Somebody has to stand up and say something, because we’re living like this. In fear of bacteria, in fear of a tree falling on their head, fear of the transmission falling out in a pothole!”
The fear is felt in other parks as well. Mike Papa, a long time resident and critic of the management at The Woodlands MHP in the town of Lockport, recently reached out to Newfane-based county legislator Shawn Foti.
“We are also dealing with a big corporation raising lot rent every year and cutting services,” Papa wrote to Foti.
Papa also showed to the US&J bills documenting the rent increases on his lot. When he moved in on Sept. 1, 2019, the rent was about $595, and by January 1, 2020, it had been raised to approximately $605. Currently the rent is $655 per month, and that’s on top of a $450 per month mortgage.
With the price of everything including food going up, Papa said supporting a family of four is hard work and he is “struggling to cover the cost.”
Foti responded to Papa that he understands and the issue is nationwide.
“Myself and the other county legislators will stand behind you and all other park residents to fight this issue,” he wrote.
State Assembly Member Mike Norris, R-Lockport, also responded to questions about the plight of some of his constituents.
“Unfortunately, this issue has become a more common problem in our manufactured home communities statewide,” he said in a statement to the US&J. “Like any other tenant in New York state, residents of manufactured home communities should expect open dialogue from park owners, transparency on rate increases and good faith efforts to maintain and improve the property’s infrastructure and aesthetics.”
Norris co-sponsored two bills that passed in both the Assembly and the state Senate and are now bound for delivery to Governor Kathy Hochul once she “calls” for them later this year. Hochul works with attorneys to determine the constitutional status of each passed bill and “calls” for them as they’re OK’d by attorneys to either sign or veto.
The bills require manufactured home park owners to provide written justification for rent increases, and give MHP residents “the right of first refusal,” meaning, in the event the park is to be sold, they have the chance to purchase their home before any other offer is accepted.
State Sen. Rob Ortt’s office relayed that it is aware of the issues at Ridgeview and has been connecting residents with the state Division of Homes and Community Renewal (HCR).
“The HCR is responsible for tenants rights,” said Andrew Dugan, district director for Ortt’s office. “So, we connected them to there. Also, we followed up with HRC to say, ‘We sent the Ridgeview residents to you,’ just to make sure their concerns were highlighted and to know they could be calling.”
Newfane town Supervisor John Syracuse said that since attorneys are involved, his role is to follow the rules in the proceeding and listen to the town’s attorney. The residents have his sympathy, he added.
“I feel they’re asking for reasonable improvements and have been over an extended period of time,” Syracuse said.
Foti said he is looking to bring a resolution to the Niagara County Legislature, but wants to do more than just bring awareness to the issue and vote for something that would really help MHP residents.
“We’re looking for what we can do that isn’t just a feel-good resolution,” he said.
