Ahhh--memories of life upon the Plains: Residents accuse trailer parks of discrimination

The Associated Press
8/21/2003, 3:08 p.m. CT

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) -- Residents of two troubled mobile home parks near Auburn University claim the operators are trying to run them off to clear the way for college students.

At least 60 residents of Webster's Crossing and Auburn Estates contend managers have been making living conditions unbearable so they will move out and college students can move in.

Both parks are owned by the same California-based company and operated by the same two managers. Company officials denied the claims.

Tuesday night, the Auburn City Council heard allegations of excessive fines, unreasonable rate increases, unfair evictions and racial slurs directed toward residents.

"It is stressful living over there," said Wanda Marshall, a resident of Auburn Estates. "They're making conditions rough for us to make us move out."

Cathy Yazdanbakhsh, office manager of the California-based SDD Enterprises, which owns both parks, said new managers are enforcing rules fully, something their predecessors didn't do.

Evictions, Yazdanbakhsh said, resulted from numerous domestic violence calls placed to police, threats to management, vandalism and rule-breaking. [...]

The more things change, eh?

Oh, the nostalgia this brought back. Webster's was up the road a bit from Campus Trailer Court where I lived (long-time readers will remember my recollections of my tidy 7'x22' Terry Taurus Travel Trailer dwelling/changing room--scroll down to the entry for the 6th because Blogger is still stupid).

Webster's was where all the really cool rich kids lived, and had quite the party reputation. Campus, on the other hand, was pretty darned quiet to have so many college kids in it.

Although, I have to say that the family of screaming itinerant laborers and their assorted womenfolk who moved in next door during my junior year were a bit on the boisterous side.

You know how folks are.
posted by Terry at 3:50:00 PM