By Nancy Needham (nancy@conejovalleyguide.com)
Surrounded by affluence, fragile seniors are out in front of Thousand Oaks City Hall today as they brave hot weather to bring attention to their plight. Some of the new cars passing them by honked supportively. Friendly people waved at them. People ages 65 to 95, almost all with distressing medical conditions, stood with signs touting “Elder Abuse,” “Honk for Granny” or descriptions explaining how proposed rent increases to mobile home parks are going to result in homelessness for many of them.
With the $64 million Civic Arts Plaza as a backdrop, the seniors pushed walkers, sat in lawn chairs or rode up and down the street in disability scooters. Some ventured across Thousand Oaks Boulevard to rally in front of the $6 million park Gardens of the World. Next door to the garden people ordered from a menu at Mastro’s Steakhouse that includes an $85 lobster tail and a $10 side order of mashed potatoes. Nearby is the parcel of land the city purchased this year for $3.25 million, without a stated purpose for owning. Also within a few yards are the 10 parking spaces the city recently added at The Lakes for $400,000.
But, there is no relief for these seniors who seem to be entirely on their own. No churches bring them cold bottles of water. Very little shade. It’s as if the community has forgotten them. Among those holding signs are those who fought in WWII, longtime residents and people who thought they’d be safe retiring in a place zoned as rent-controlled for low-income seniors.They started there at 9 a.m. and plan to stay until 5 p.m. The group Save Our Seniors (S.O.S.) is hoping to bring to the community’s attention that the park owner for Thunderbird Oaks Mobile Home Park and Ranch Mobile Home Park has proposed rent increases that most of the residents will not be able to afford to pay. At Thunderbird the increase proposed is a $260 per month. At Ranch it is a $587 per month increase.
Chairperson for Save Our Seniors (S.O.S.) Marilyn Aurand, 65, and Bob Prehmus, 73, rally for seniors outside of Thousand Oaks City Hall in hopes of making the community aware of their plight as Thunderbird Oaks Mobile Home Park residents who fear a proposed rent increase of $260 per month if the park owner gets his way. Bob said he moved to the mobile home park from Bakersfield earlier this year because he thought the park was rent controlled. “I wouldn’t have moved in if I’d known this was going to happen. I can’t afford it,” he said. “They are trying to destroy us. They will make some of us homeless with 50 to 60 percent of us not able to pay the increase. Where will those who can’t afford to pay it go?” Marilyn said.
This is not the first protest Helen Troy, 78, has been a part of in Thousand Oaks. Actually, this city might not even be Thousand Oaks if it wasn’t for Helen. Back 50 years ago some property owner named Janss wanted to name the newly forming town Conejo City. Helen got signatures on a petition. Naming the city was put on the ballot. Then she worked to make sure the town got the more dignified name of Thousand Oaks. Now she’s on the street holding the sign “Honk for Granny” hoping somebody cares about what will happen to local seniors such as herself will see it. Ranch Mobile Home Park, where she lives, has proposed a 500 percent rent increase. If it happens, fragile seniors could be put out on the street.
She is not going to take it even if it means she has to push her walker up and down the street in front of City Hall all daylong. With the sun beating down on her, Audrey Fayloga, 68, who has multiple sclerosis and arthritis, joins other seniors who are trying to prevent proposed rent increases at Thunderbird Oaks Mobile Home Park and Ranch Mobile Home Park. Seniors living at the mobile home parks cannot afford to pay the increases. She and the other seniors are frightened. One of the mobile home park residents has already had a stroke and many of the seniors said they think it was due to the stress of the proposed rent increases and the fear of being homeless.
Standing in the hot sun. Riding up and down Thousand Oaks Boulevard on an electric mobility scooter. This is not the first time World War II veteran Charles Sallia, 86, has battled against all odds. His friends call him Sal. When he was 17 he was in the Naval Air Force fighting for freedom in the central pacific. I
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Monday, January 23, 2012 at 10:06PM 
The Simi Valley Senior Center at 3900 Avenida Simi is a 22,000 square foot enrichment and learning center for adults. The center provides learning programs, exercise classes, meal programs, health services, excursions, computer classes, book clubs, support groups, billiard room, social services, art classes and more. For ages 50+. The Rendezvous Café operates M-W and offers hot lunch for a small charge. Visit www.ci.simi-valley.ca.us/index.aspx?page=249 or call 805.583.6363.
The Pleasant Valley Sen
