heNation says Retirees and members of the Manufactured Home Owners Association of America (MHOAA) came from around the nation to tell Sam Zell at the Equity Lifestyle Properties’ (ELS) annual shareholders meeting that raising rents and cutting services at his MHCs is threatening his own clients ability to remain as residents. A woman from Florida bought a share of stock so she could attend the meeting, but most of those who came to protest were not allowed in. MHProNews.com has learned Zell did not attend either. Article author Laura Flanders says ELS sued to rescind rent control so many times in Santa Cruz, California, the city finally caved in to avoid future litigation costs, although it won the last lawsuit. Besides having to pay increased rents, residents say they will also have a tougher time selling their homes. Members of MHOAA who live in rent control communities live in fear ELS will sue their municipalities to overturn the ruling. ELS owns hundreds of MHCs that cater to seniors, says Flanders, and last year earned $300 million. Sam Zell calls himself the “grave dancer” because he dances “on the skeletons of other people’s mistakes.”
