Sandalwood Park

Sad day for Sandalwood Homeowners William Feeney and T. Patrick Smith had big plans for Sandalwood.  July 2001, Sandalwood Park became Sandalwood Estates, LLC.  The Rabes / Feeney and Smith transaction was bad news for the homeowners of Sandalwood and it was a sad day for this community of seniors citizens where the majority are on fixed income.  The Rabes had probably paid over market value for the property, and now, in addition to the Rabes, this community was saddled with the Feeney and Smith's (alleged) lease and they demanded a "fair rate of return" on their investment soon after (allegedly) signing their 55-year rental contract. When Feeney and Smith took over the park, this was a gentle and friendly community, but to Feeney and Smith, the land they leased was an investment. The Homeowners of Sandalwood Estates Sandalwood Estates, a mobile home / manufactured home park located off McDowell Boulevard North in Petaluma, California, is a community of senior citizens where the majority are on fixed income.  Some of the homeowners have been living in this park since it was built in 1964.  The ages range from fifty-five to late nineties.  The homeowners own their homes but pay rent on the small land beneath.  Candlewood Park / Sandalwood Park, has always been affordable housing for senior citizens and most expected to live the rest of their lives in this comfortable and gentle community.   But for  many elderly more fragile residents, the transition of the park and the constant fear that they could not meet the demands of the new owners, added such stress and was overwhelming.  The fear of losing their homes robbed them of their last days of peace.  Several homeowners died suddently soon after the new owners took over the lease of the land.    Feeney and  Smith And First Meeting with the Homeowners The club house was full.  Everyone who could walk was there and the tension was high as homeowners waited for the meeting to begin.  They were concerned about what they were about to hear, yet they hoped for the best.  These new landowners, would they see their anxiety?  Would they cared about their lives?  Two large tableaux were set up with large blank sheets of paper ready for the speakers to demonstrate their plans for the future of Sandalwood Estates, LLC and the future of the homeowners. From age 55 to late 90s, they listened while slowly realizing their worst fears confirmed.  Patrick Smith and Bill Feeney, multi-millionaires and new owners of the Sandalwood land, clearly spoke of their intention to raise the rent to $600.00 per month as quickly as possible.  It was more than double for most homeowners on fixed income.    That evening residents of Sandalwood went home devastated.  Many in tears.   Most spent sleepless nights worrying, wondering what to do, where to go.   Where do you go if you are 85, unable to work and about to lose your home? In their convertible Mercedes and BMW, Mr. Feeney and Mr. Smith made a grand entrance into the senior mobilehome park.  They demonstrated their authority and without doubt, they expected Sandalwood homeowners to be easily intimidated by their ruses.   Sandalwood is a wonderful and friendly little community where everyone looks after each other.  Soon we began to see this community rise, organize, ready for a fight.   Leaders took control and worked hours, days, and months to learn the laws, talking to politicians, to lawyers, raising money to fight these abuses.  Yes, some gave up.  (It is alleged that  $55,000 homes were bought by Feeney and Smith for $10,000.)   Many moved rather than facing stressful battles.  And some died. Feeney and Smith soon put their plans into actions and began working on the elderly.  They wanted everyone on long term leases.  Those who chose to stay under the city rent control laws were punished with notices of rent increases of more than 100%.  On May 9, 2002, an arbitration decision made by arbitrator Leland Dibble, denied Feeney and Smith their  demand to raise the rent for more than 6%, what is allowed by city Ordinance Section 6.50.040A.   Feeney and Smith, angry at the decision, appealed the ruling and sued the City of Petaluma, claiming bias by Arbitrator Leland Dibble.  They lamented they were denied a "fair rate of return" on their investment.  They claimed that by denying them the requested rent increase, the homeowners were taking from them! ! !  They were the victims.  They, the sophisticated businessmen  millionaires who came to Petaluma looking to expand their wealth off the backs of the elderly, they were the victims. As Mr. Dibble justly stated in Findings of Fact, Feeney and Smith knew when they acquired Sandalwood that the park was affordable housing for senior citizens.  "They appear to have overpaid in terms of lease payment for the property, and thus the tenants cannot be burdened with that miscalculation."                                                 And Judge Owen agreed with Mr. Dibble and added: "Petitioner did not show that it was denied a fair hearing by Mr. Dibble since the mere fact that a decision is rendered against a party is insufficient to mandate disqualification for bias." Still, Feeney and Smith were not satisfied as they continued to make good of their promise to take the homeowners to arbitration year after year.  Less than a month after they lost the lawsuit, Feeney & Smith sent new notices to the stressed homeowners for another rent incease of 111 %.   Speaking to Argus Courier reporter, Chip McAuley, the attorney for the homeowners, Joseph Smith said: "The park owners either need to be criminally indicted or have a civil lawsuit brought against them for elder abuse and unfair business practices."  "A lot of tenants will die, or move out of the park and the Bay Area," he said.  Several have had strokes during the arbitration process.  "Someone has to intervene.  I can't do it alone." After several years of duress on the homeowners, Bill Feeney and Patrick Smith finally entered into an agreement with the affected parties and the City of Petaluma.  The agreement, signed in January 2004, was relatively reasonable considering their demands.  But, was it the end? Was it the end of harassment for Sandalwood seniors and elderly?  Hardly! To be continued . . .    . Coming up:  Trouble at Sandalwood Estates Retaliation at Petaluma Sandalwood Estates Sandalwood Mourning  The Solution for Petaluma Sandalwood Estates

Other sites by Marcelle Guy

Elle on the Web Emergency Preparedness Don't leave your pets behind All About Petaluma Petaluma Sandalwood Estates Open letter to Petaluma Mayor and Members of Council Where to  . . . in Petaluma Petaluma Events: Meet Petaluma City Council Candidates Spence Burton for Petaluma City Council Petaluma Sandalwood Estates Mourning

Petaluma Feral Cats My Rescued Kittens  A Little Tabby speaks for the feral cats of the world Trap Spay Neuter A Family wants to Keep Pet Potbellied Pigs The Northern California Bulletin Board A voice for our companion animals Prayers for Animals My Afghan Hounds King of Dogs

Understanding Repressed Memories Anatomy of Amnesia Peace on Earth Gentle Hearts Gather (Coming soon) In Memory of Damini When Elephants Grieve

"Alert"

July 11, 2007
45 Afghan Hounds in deplorable conditions
removed from puppy mill.

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