Bill Bateman

Well , it didn't take long . Once the bill was introduced , the skullduggery machine went into overdrive . Come on inside , let's talk about it . Hi , I'm Bill Bateman , part of the team here at Oregon State Tenants Association , and for the astute listener and I know that's you out there that is new music . I thought an official news alert tone would be appropriate , because it took very little time for owners to begin spreading misinformation and I don't have exact examples of the present shenanigans , but I do have examples from what you've heard in the past . I'd like you to listen to what I'm going to talk about and then let me know if it sounds at all familiar with what you might be hearing .

Bill Bateman

I found some park owners have already been asked to insert things in newsletters , and if it's your newsletter , you don't have to allow it . If it's the park's newsletter and you don't care for it , it's your newsletter , you don't have to allow it . If it's the park's newsletter and you don't care for it , it's your responsibility and your right to complain about the content . But some of the excuses we have seen in past campaigns and I'll list just a few Park owners are struggling to pay their bills . Park owners do not want vacancies and are careful not to set rents above what the markets will allow . And , by the way , a prospective tenant is free to go elsewhere if they believe the rent is too high . Let's see what else . Oh , this is a good one . Parks , especially small and mid-level parks , already have rents that are significant at or below the market value , and the coming bill would adversely affect existing parks by reducing their ability to maintain common areas . And amendment I can hardly say it , I'm strangling . Yeah , they're going to not be able to afford to to take care of you if you reduce the rent because , well , quite frankly , they're not doing it now and it makes no sense . This is one of my favorite . It makes no sense for existing park residents to suffer a reduction for the sake of new and incoming residents . Those are just some of the common examples of arguments that have been heard in the past . And another thing let's be careful of the promises you may get .

Bill Bateman

I'm going to share a story from one of our people that I've worked with , and they had efforts in working in mediation . They spent two days working out an agreement in mediation on behalf of a group of tenants for the park . Now the tenants were willing to give up some rights to get what they wanted , and those rights was the park to honor its obligation to maintain the park facility . They put the whole thing together and a week later , disavowed it , walked away from it . This is the type of folks we're doing business with .

Bill Bateman

By the way and I've heard this on numbers of occasions , including in my own park any threats of reduced service is illegal . Illegal , and there are several sections of the OR or the Oregon statutes section 9375 , 385 and 730 even . There's more to go , but I'll save you that . Also , special assessments or fees are illegal . And let's let's look at what one of the park owners testified at the last time this whole thing went around . They said rents must not be increased because the landlords are greedy , but to make a modest profit and stay in business . If landlords go out of business , residents are displaced , many of whom will become homeless . I think I got that done with a straight face .

Bill Bateman

And such and such a bill would have disastrous consequences , not upon the housing supply , but on the state's economy as a whole . This sounds suspiciously like an abusive spouse . I won't hit you again , baby , baby , if you promise to drop the charges . This is very , very common the idea that you don't have any power and have to let these people do what they're doing is wrong . There are state laws and there is movement afoot . This is totally down the road , but there is more and more pressure to get stronger enforcement , to get stronger laws and to not allow this type of activity to happen . Until it does , it's up to us to stand up and not be bought off with a promise that can be broken easily , a non-enforceable promise . So the tips to do what should you do right now ? A if you hear promises or threats or anything else , please let us know .

Bill Bateman

Here at OSTU , we want to be able to take this right to the legislature so we have accurate , firsthand information . Always get things in writing . I can't do anything with hearsay . I want written facts . Also , now's the time . People have been carpet bombing me for months . When can we get active ? When can we get active Right now ? Go , let's write some letters . Let's reach out to our mayors , city councils .

Bill Bateman

I've asked our commissioners in Medford , ashland , talent and Phoenix and our committee members to issue a proclamation Now . There are two ways they could issue it . The first way is to issue a proclamation simply supporting February as National Senior Independent Living Month . That's a national thing and I think it would be a wonderful idea for them to support the right of you and I , the members of the community , to live independently . If they wanted to extend that a little bit and support SB 3054 , that would be even better . Support SB 3054 , that would be even better .

Bill Bateman

So let's write a quick letter or perhaps an appropriate , polite , well thought out phone call to the board of commissioners or the mayor or the city council , whatever is appropriate in your area , and if you're listening out of my immediate broadcast area I live in the Southern Oregon area there's no reason at all you can't do this in your community . Reach out , along with the letters you're going to be writing to the members of the commission or the committee members of the panel that are listed on the website . We ask you to reach out to them and their previous members programs on that . But reach out to these folks . And also let's not forget our local newspapers . If you have one , we have one , the rogue valley times here in the medford area . I think it would be very nice to write a letter to the editor stating the appropriate factual information as to why this bill is so important .

Bill Bateman

We are preventing future homelessness of you and I , senior citizens . This isn't happening a year down the road . For some people it's coming up next month . So don't be afraid to share some information , don't be afraid to reach out . Keep coming back to the OSTA website as new information comes in in , as you share with me the things that are happening . I'll put it all together and pass it on and you don't be afraid to do that yourself to your local community papers . And you call in your . If you have a favorite radio show and they take calls on various subjects , various subjects . That's an excellent time right now tomorrow okay , but right now , if you can do it , that's what's going on right now . That's the latest osta update . We'll look forward to seeing you again next time .