DAY OF SERVICE AND ACTION. THANKS FOR JOINING US, I'M ANDREA NAKANO. HERE IN THE BAY AREA, SOME OF THE MOST AFFORDABLE PLACES TO LIVE ARE MOBILE HOME PARKS, BUT SOME OF THOSE LANDLORDS ARE NOW TESTING THE STRENGTH OF RENT CONTROL LAWS. THE RESIDENTS OF THREE SONOMA COUNTY BASED MOBILE HOMES ARE SPEAKING OUT AGAINST THEIR CORPORATE LANDLORD. AS JOHN RAMOS EXPLAINS, RENTERS SAY THEY'RE FACING ILLEGAL RENT INCREASES. >> Reporter: MOBILE HOME PARKS HAVE BECOME A BATTLEGROUND. THEY ARE OFTEN HOUSING FOR SENIORS AND PEOPLE OF MODERATE INCOMES. BUT THOSE PROTECTIONS ARE BEING CHALLENGED BY INVESTORS WHO ARE LOOKING TO MAKE A LOT MORE MONEY. >> WE ARE ALL HERE IN SOLIDARITY TODAY TO LET THEM KNOW WE ALL STAND TOGETHER, AND THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET THEM DO THIS TO OUR PEOPLE. >> Reporter: THE RALLY AT A PARK IN PETALUMA WAS A COMING TOGETHER FROM RESIDENTS OF A NUMBER OF MOBILE HOME PARKS. EACH OF THE THREE PARKS ARE PROTECTED BY RENT CONTROL LAWS, BUT NEVERTHELESS RESIDENTS HAVE RECEIVED RENT INCREASE DEMAND WELL ABOVE THE LIMITS. IN THE CASE OF LITTLE WOODS, A PARK WITH A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF SPANISH SPEAKING PEOPLE, THE INCREASES ARE AS MUCH AS 300%. AND MANY ARE STUCK BECAUSE THEY OWN THEIR MOBILE HOME, BUT NOT THE GROUND IT SITS ON. >> SO A LOT OF TIMES THEY ARE IN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE. THEY HAVE TO ACCEPT IT BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE ALTERNATIVE WOULD PROBABLY PUT THEM OUT, THAT THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO MOVE. >> WE ARE FRIGHTENED BY THESE THREATS. WE STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF OTHER PARKS WHO ARE ALSO FACING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HARMONY. >> Reporter: HARMONY COMMUNITIES ALSO MANAGES THE COUNTRYSIDE MOBILE HOME PARK, WHICH IS UNDERGOING THE LATEST FIGHT. WAYNE RANDALL HAS LIVED IN THIS SENIOR PARK FOR 17 YEARS AND SAYS IT IS A SIMPLE LIFESTYLE. >> WE HAVE NO AMENITIES HERE, NO CLUBHOUSE SWIMMING POOLS, NO SIDEWALKS, NOTHING. WE'RE JUST LIVING. BUT WE'RE LIVING AT A RATE THAT WE CAN AFFORD. >> Reporter: BUT THE PROPERTY OWNERS WANTED TO REMOVE THE SENIORS ONLY STATUS. SO IN DECEMBER, LEADERS VOTED TO IMPOSE A SENIORS OVERLAY, ZONING THE PROPERTY FOR ONLY THAT PURPOSE. AFTERWARDS PROPERTY OWNER NICK UBALDI THREATENED THE COUNCIL SAYING, "YOU VOTED FOR A LAWSUIT. THE PROPERTY VALUE FAR EXCEEDS ITS CURRENT USE. THIS IS A PRIVATE BUSINESS, AND WE WILL NO LONGER BEAR THE BURDEN OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING EFFORTS." THE CITY CAN BUILD AND SUBSIDIZE ITS OWN. AFTER TONIGHT'S VOTE, WE HAVE DECIDED TO IMMEDIATELY BEGIN THE CLOSURE PROCESS FOR COUNTRYSIDE MOBILE HOME PARK. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THE OWNER HERE? >> HIS ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO BREAK RENT CONTROL. IT'S THE PROCESS OF MAKING PEOPLE UNCOMFORTABLE, WHERE THEY ARE AT, HOW THEY'RE LIVING, AND THAT THEY HAVE TO CONFORM TO EITHER HIGHER RENT INCREASES OR THEY WILL EVENTUALLY GET YOU OUT OF EHIRE. >> Reporter: IT'S BECOMING A FAMILIAR PATTERN. THOSE WHO LIVE IN MOBILE HOME PARKS HAVE LITTLE. >> WE ARE LEFT WITH NO CHOICE. >> Reporter: BUT THEY'RE FINDING TOGETHER THEY HAVE MORE POWER THAN STANDING ALONE. >> PETALUMA RECENTLY PASSED A STRONGER ORDINANCE, BUT PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE NOW
