Syosset mobile home residents protest eviction

Residents of the Syosset Mobile Home Park stepped up their opposition to their impending December eviction yesterday with a sign-carrying protest.

[TMTM]

How ironic that Newsday runs this story the same day County Executive Tom 'Sleazy" unveils a plan to end homelessness in Nassau County. Hey Tom- you are sitting back and letting these people get evicted....but you care about homelessness? Where do you expect them to live when their homes are destroyed? Someone needs to help these people with compensation and relocation.

[Robert Perkis]

Manufactured home owners need adequate compensation for the value of their homes and real relocation assistance or they need be allowed to stay where they are and have their property rights respected. Any compensation will likely be a joke, it will be based on the value of a tin can not the value of affordable housing to a low income working family. As for relocation does it include the home, to where? No mobile home park takes older homes.

Mobile home owners have a stake in the land because they were required to improve the land owner's property with a home, concrete work, landscaping, etc. By keeping their homes up they made the business possible. Now they're expected to leave everything behind and wander off like raccoons because someone else bought the land, that's not right. Sure the land can be bought and sold, but the home owners have a right to stay because otherwise their bought and paid for homes will be stolen and destroyed without compensation.

[Death Race]

TMTM wrote:

How ironic that Newsday runs this story the same day County Executive Tom 'Sleazy" unveils a plan to end homelessness in Nassau County. Hey Tom- you are sitting back and letting these people get evicted....but you care about homelessness? Where do you expect them to live when their homes are destroyed? Someone needs to help these people with compensation and relocation.

I don’t know where you got the information from, but Suozzi released his plan on March 3, 2007 and this Newsday article about the trailers was released on July 17, 2008 while judge Phelan made his ruling about the trailer park issue on March 20, 2008. Perhaps the park residents can ask for the $7M the county has for that project as a down payment on the $9M that STP Associates paid for the park. Keep in mind that they are not homeless.

[Death Race]

Robert Perkis wrote:

Manufactured home owners need adequate compensation for the value of their homes and real relocation assistance or they need be allowed to stay where they are and have their property rights respected. Any compensation will likely be a joke, it will be based on the value of a tin can not the value of affordable housing to a low income working family. As for relocation does it include the home, to where? No mobile home park takes older homes.
Mobile home owners have a stake in the land because they were required to improve the land owner's property with a home, concrete work, landscaping, etc. By keeping their homes up they made the business possible. Now they're expected to leave everything behind and wander off like raccoons because someone else bought the land, that's not right. Sure the land can be bought and sold, but the home owners have a right to stay because otherwise their bought and paid for homes will be stolen and destroyed without compensation.

You’re mistaken about the property rights here in NY. Maybe things are different in Florida where you are, but here in NY, unless you own the land and can show proof of that with a title/deed, you have no property rights. Nobody is expecting them to “leave everything behind” because they do own the trailers and have every right to take them wherever they want. You said these homes are bought and paid for so they have every right to do with them what they wish.
Improvements at this park were funded by what they were paying in rent much like an apartment house. By keeping their homes up (as we all do), they maintained a habitable environment for themselves as well as keeping the value of the trailer/home at a fair market value. I’m sure they also made improvements to them and had them inspected as required and updated if need be to meet federal and state and local safety codes. We all want to be safe in our homes so I’m sure that isn’t a problem. Just as I wouldn’t want my foundation, beams and joists crumbling apart, I’m sure they made sure the chassis and framework of their trailers/homes are in good condition. Mobile home parks will take any trailer that is up to code and will pass inspection similar to the way permanent structure houses must have a C of O before anyone can live in it.
Nobody is going to steal or destroy their homes unless they decide to abandon them. From what I know of this, they were offered about $10,000 each which they can use for transporting the homes. There are plenty of trailer parks in Suffolk county where they can have them moved to for much less than that.
From what you’ve said it sounds like things are much different in Florida if mobile home owners get property rights without purchasing the property. It sounds as if the laws there are written to provide added protection. Here in NY things work differently.

[TMTM]

Mobile home parks on Long Island will NOT take any mobile home. When there is an available lot to rent, the parks purchase a new home, double the price and sell it on the lot to a new homeowner. I have tried to have a mobile home moved to any park in Suffolk County with an open lot and have been refused, not because of the condition of the mobile home (it is up to code and only a few years old) but because it is more profitable to buy their own homes. I have tried everything that I can think of to get this home out of Syosset and keep runnimg into closed doors. You are dead wrong when you say that "they were offered $10,000 each....for transporting their homes". STP hasnt made any such offer. And if they did, there isnt any place to transport the homes to. You seem intelligent ....maybe you can come up with an answer for these people. Too bad STP are men with no hearts.

[Someone who knows]

Death Race wrote:

<quoted text>
You’re mistaken about the property rights here in NY. Maybe things are different in Florida where you are, but here in NY, unless you own the land and can show proof of that with a title/deed, you have no property rights. Nobody is expecting them to “leave everything behind” because they do own the trailers and have every right to take them wherever they want. You said these homes are bought and paid for so they have every right to do with them what they wish.
Improvements at this park were funded by what they were paying in rent much like an apartment house. By keeping their homes up (as we all do), they maintained a habitable environment for themselves as well as keeping the value of the trailer/home at a fair market value. I’m sure they also made improvements to them and had them inspected as required and updated if need be to meet federal and state and local safety codes. We all want to be safe in our homes so I’m sure that isn’t a problem. Just as I wouldn’t want my foundation, beams and joists crumbling apart, I’m sure they made sure the chassis and framework of their trailers/homes are in good condition. Mobile home parks will take any trailer that is up to code and will pass inspection similar to the way permanent structure houses must have a C of O before anyone can live in it.
Nobody is going to steal or destroy their homes unless they decide to abandon them. From what I know of this, they were offered about $10,000 each which they can use for transporting the homes. There are plenty of trailer parks in Suffolk county where they can have them moved to for much less than that.
From what you’ve said it sounds like things are much different in Florida if mobile home owners get property rights without purchasing the property. It sounds as if the laws there are written to provide added protection. Here in NY things work differently.

Who offered $10,000 - certainly not STP!!!

[Death Race]

TMTM wrote:

Mobile home parks on Long Island will NOT take any mobile home. When there is an available lot to rent, the parks purchase a new home, double the price and sell it on the lot to a new homeowner. I have tried to have a mobile home moved to any park in Suffolk County with an open lot and have been refused, not because of the condition of the mobile home (it is up to code and only a few years old) but because it is more profitable to buy their own homes. I have tried everything that I can think of to get this home out of Syosset and keep runnimg into closed doors. You are dead wrong when you say that "they were offered $10,000 each....for transporting their homes". STP hasnt made any such offer. And if they did, there isnt any place to transport the homes to. You seem intelligent ....maybe you can come up with an answer for these people. Too bad STP are men with no hearts.

I do recall reading that an offer of $500,000 was made to the 50 or so residents, but it was rejected. If I were in the position where I had to move a mobile home, I would look into the applicable laws as to acquiring an empty lot. There just might be a loophole that can make an open lot available to someone who wants or needs it. I wouldn’t suggest using Elliot Schlissel as I’ve read some of his applications/motions. In my opinion, he is taking these people for a ride.
Another suggestion I have is for the trailer owners who have not been paying rent for several months to pool their money and put it towards a down payment or outright purchase of an empty lot. A rough guess is that they should be able to collectively come up with almost $400,000 which is plenty for a down payment on an empty lot in Suffolk county. Get a lot that will fit everyone willing to participate and that way they own the land. It would at least be a productive use of time and money and is a much better goal than trying to stay where they can’t. they will be evicted and could lose what they have. At least an honest effort at relocation could buy extra time.
I’m neither for or against STP and in the business world having a heart isn’t an option. You have to use money to make money. With that in mind, the idea of purchasing a vacant lot sounds much better. If it is big enough, the extra land can be parceled off at a profit. If Suffolk county is out of the question there is land that can be had dirt cheap in Upstate NY and in Pennsylvania.
Good luck.

[Someone who knows]

Death Race wrote:

<quoted text>
I do recall reading that an offer of $500,000 was made to the 50 or so residents, but it was rejected. If I were in the position where I had to move a mobile home, I would look into the applicable laws as to acquiring an empty lot. There just might be a loophole that can make an open lot available to someone who wants or needs it. I wouldn’t suggest using Elliot Schlissel as I’ve read some of his applications/motions. In my opinion, he is taking these people for a ride.
Another suggestion I have is for the trailer owners who have not been paying rent for several months to pool their money and put it towards a down payment or outright purchase of an empty lot. A rough guess is that they should be able to collectively come up with almost $400,000 which is plenty for a down payment on an empty lot in Suffolk county. Get a lot that will fit everyone willing to participate and that way they own the land. It would at least be a productive use of time and money and is a much better goal than trying to stay where they can’t. they will be evicted and could lose what they have. At least an honest effort at relocation could buy extra time.
I’m neither for or against STP and in the business world having a heart isn’t an option. You have to use money to make money. With that in mind, the idea of purchasing a vacant lot sounds much better. If it is big enough, the extra land can be parceled off at a profit. If Suffolk county is out of the question there is land that can be had dirt cheap in Upstate NY and in Pennsylvania.
Good luck.

It was never really considered by STP - they just made an offer to make themselves look good - and it worked because it made the homeowners look bad - they wanted to keep up their image

[Death Race]

Someone who knows wrote:

<quoted text>It was never really considered by STP - they just made an offer to make themselves look good - and it worked because it made the homeowners look bad - they wanted to keep up their image

But they did make an offer that was refused?

[Someone who knows]

Death Race wrote:

<quoted text>
But they did make an offer that was refused?

It wasn't refused -- it was either all or none -- so those of us who voted for it were voted down and the offer was taken off the table the next day anyway - like I said - it was all for their image - there really never was any offer -- For the record, when I leave my home - it will be mowed over by a backhoe and that will be the end -- all the money I've spent and any investment I may have had will not exist and the IRS will not let me deduct it as a loss -- in other words, I lose $50,000 -- WHO OUT THERE WOULD WILLINGLY WALK AWAY FROM $50,000 -- NOT TOO MANY OF YOU SNOBBY LONG ISLANDERS -- I'M SURE!!!!

[Death Race]

Someone who knows wrote:

<quoted text>
It wasn't refused -- it was either all or none -- so those of us who voted for it were voted down and the offer was taken off the table the next day anyway - like I said - it was all for their image - there really never was any offer -- For the record, when I leave my home - it will be mowed over by a backhoe and that will be the end -- all the money I've spent and any investment I may have had will not exist and the IRS will not let me deduct it as a loss -- in other words, I lose $50,000 -- WHO OUT THERE WOULD WILLINGLY WALK AWAY FROM $50,000 -- NOT TOO MANY OF YOU SNOBBY LONG ISLANDERS -- I'M SURE!!!!

So if everyone voted yes then the deal would have gone through. Unfortunately not everyone wanted to take it so some of you lost out. Nobody I know would walk away from $50,000, that’s for sure. I also know nobody who would throw $50, away.
May I ask how much you want for your mobile home or if there is anyone willing to sell one? I’ve got my eye on a parcel in Pennsylvania and might be interested. It’s faster than new construction and might help someone out with a quick sale.