[Occupymendocino] Cypress Ridge again

[Linda Jupiter]

> From: judy garratt <jgarratt at mcn.org>
> Date: August 14, 2012 12:14:43 PM PDT
> To: announce at lists.mcn.org
> Subject: [MCN-Announce]- Cypress Ridge again
>
> Dear Community, The corporation that manages the senior housing  
> property, Cypress Ridge, in Fort Bragg is preparing to enforce a  
> landscaping policy that completely extinguishes any individual  
> expression in the front yards of each resident. Because the care of  
> the common areas in the past has been minimal, the seniors who live  
> there have attempted to beautify the little plots of ground in front  
> of their homes with small gardens, rocks,  driftwood, or even a pink  
> flamingo. The former manager encouraged this activity, and even  
> though the "rules" prohibited any decoration of their entrances,  
> recorded in the annual evaluations of the residents that they were  
> "in compliance." New management has taken a different approach,  
> notifying these seniors that any artifacts fronting their homes have  
> to be removed, and had planned to spray the entire property with  
> Roundup. The response from many people on this list a and the  
> greater community was swift, and the corporation backed down on the  
> toxic spray, even denying that it had been their intent.  However,  
> they are going ahead with the plan to destroy all plantings,   
> including mature rhododendrons and small trees. No bird feeders, no  
> little wind chimes, not even a thermometer by the door will be  
> allowed. The residents have the right under HUD rules to assemble  
> and organize to try to negotiate a compromise but this is being  
> discouraged, and there is the threat of eviction for those who are  
> most vocal. Nonetheless, the residents are meeting, and trying to  
> circulate a petition, hoping that there might be a way to mitigate  
> the plan and negotiate a compromise. These are people's homes,  
> perhaps the last home for many. Must their dwellings resemble a  
> dormitory? I believe this issue goes to mental health and well- 
> being, and if it is not a consideration of the folks who manage this  
> place, it should be.  An adversarial relationship with those elders  
> for whom you have been given the privilege of providing a home is  
> unacceptable. I appreciate being able to share this and apologize  
> for such a lengthy post.
> __________________________________________________________
> __________________________________________________________

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