The Weekly Calistogan in Calistoga, California, tells of a battle going on between manufactured housing community owners and residents over rent control, and the city is in the middle.  The owners are raising rental fees beyond what local law allows, and the residents are getting financial help from the city to fight them.  The article notes it puts the city government in an odd position of taking sides between private citizens and private business.  It also should consider the community owners’ needs to make a reasonable profit, otherwise they will close.  Not many of the residents qualify for low income assistance, but the city may have to subsidize those who cannot genuinely afford an increase.  The alternative is to continue in the middle between two warring parties.  The article concludes this may be a spur to get the city to invest in an affordable housing program.