(I have just returned from another marathon (3 1/2hr) negotiating session in Dover and unfortunately I haven't seen signs of a real good faith effort on the part of the landlords to compromise on SB 122, but that's why they pay me the big bucks. I promise the homeowners that their interests will be fairly represented and we'll get them a level playing field.)

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It is important to have an honest and open discussion of the facts in the Manufactured Housing debate.

HB 258 is not and was never a Rent Control bill. It is a Rent Justification measure and allows landowner/landlords of Manufactured Housing communities to continue to raise rents yearly up to the percentage amount of the Consumer Price Index without question. If the landlord wishes to raise rents more than that for legitimate (justifiable) reasons such as amenity improvements or extraordinary operational or maintenance costs that have grown abnormally and can be shown as such they are permitted to raise those rents more than the CPI index. In fact, if a landlord is making an obscene profit and still chooses to raise his rents at or below the CPI index level he is not precluded from doing that by anything in HB 258 ( unless his/her own moral conscience interferes). Unfortunately HB 258 was stricken by its sponsor before there was any opportunity to debate it on the House floor.

In the case of SB 122 (which has already passed the Senate) there is even less reason to not release it from committee for debate/discussion by all 41 members of the House. Criticism of SB 122 (right of first refusal) and the misinformation being offered as to its effects on the free market should be the focus of these discussions. I have been in attendance at many hours of meetings and have literally attended almost every discussion on the subject (including the recent three and a half hours of negotiations in Dover) and have not seen many of the people who are posting on this subject at any of them.

I am available to discuss my thoughts on this subject at any time.

John Kowalko, State Representative 24th District
134 N.Dillwyn Rd.
Newark De. 19711
302 547 9351

...News Journal coverage.