Mobile Home Initiative Deserves Consideration

* In response to Nicholas Riccardi’s July 10 article about the Mobile Home Fairness Initiative for the March, 1996, ballot, I appreciate his accurate portrayal of the initiative’s provisions, but take issue with the statements of quoted opponents of the initiative.

If I could state in one sentence what this initiative seeks to do, it is this: The initiative will phase out mobile home rent controls very gradually over time, as individuals move out of their homes.

According to a recent UCLA study, rent control is a failed experiment that has depleted our state’s supply of affordable mobile home housing while simultaneously diverting tax dollars to subsidize government regulators. Los Angeles County ended local rent laws years ago because it recognized the failings in such laws.

Because this statewide initiative only affects people moving into parks after the election, no existing residents will experience a change in their situation. In short, they keep their rent control privileges.

Inflammatory statements about park owners’ intentions only confuse an issue the voters must carefully consider next year. The facts, not innuendo, must define this debate. I urge everyone to carefully review the initiative before deciding how to vote. It is not meant to confuse anyone--it’s simply an important and complicated issue that cannot be shortened to bite-size slogans.

THOMAS T. TATUM

Los Angeles