Mary Kay
A lot of times, when we talk about people who are active in the movement to help residents of Manufactured Home Parks, we talk about the leaders - people who are out there organizing residents, calling on legislators, bringing us together to fight the destructive takeover of our communities by private equity predators. But I just lost a dear friend after a long struggle with multiple medical problems who was unable to do any of the things above, but was, in my eyes, a champion.
Her name is Mary Kay (last name not included as she was an extremely private person). Mary Kay was my personal champion. She never, not once, thought we were not going to succeed in getting our community out of the hands of greedy owners. She trusted those of us in the tenant association to always fight for what is fair and just. Mary Kay participated in everything we tried to accomplish in our fight against the continued decline of the infrastructure of the park under the ownership of corporate entities (Sunrise Capital Investors and Cook Properties). Very few people in the park realized her steadfast belief in our success. She participated in the rent strike (this was several years ago after the first investment group purchased the community from the founders/owners). She signed every single petition, every single time she was asked. When we were collecting money to pay for our lawyer fees from our lawsuit against Cook Properties for two years of unjustified rent increases of 6%, she pitched in, although she really could not afford to and it was a sacrifice for her. When people in far better financial situations would not pitch in to help because they did not believe that we could ever win against rich and powerful people, she sacrificed to do so.
As Mary Kay’s health declined, it became more difficult for her to take care of her home and her beloved kitties. Last year, without being warned, an arborist showed up and cut down a large tree located between her house and the one next door. The work was done during a wet time and mud was spattered all over the side of her house and on her windows and that of her neighbor. MK was unable to clean them and was told that the company would be back to repair damage to the yard and clean up the side of her house. That was months ago. The picture below is of the space between her house and her next door neighbor’s house that was left after her shade tree was cut down as it looks today.
A lot of times, people who own homes in MHP communities are asked to stand in front of their homes, usually smiling amid hanging plants and lawn ornaments so we can convey to others the pride of ownership and love of community and home that people who live in parks often feel. Mary Kay had all of those things once, but her struggles ate away at her ability, both financially and physically, to keep the amenities that reflected her love of home and her community. The picture I did select is a reality - many people live in parks owned by private investors. Often these owners make living in their park an exercise in misery and loss for the tenants. Isn’t that why we are together, fighting for justice?
The hopelessness of not being able to take care of her home and the continued stress and fear of rent increases was a constant for her as it is for many of us. Although she had some close friends, we are all engaged in the same struggle to feel safe and secure in the homes that we bought and loved. Mary Kay never, ever doubted that we would be able to purchase this park some day and that she would have a life free from fear. I am sad she did not live to see a day like that and I think of her trust in us (the tenant’s association and her good neighbors). Her support of us, invisible to most, was and still is an inspiration to me.
