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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes October 11, 2016 Page 6 the schools. She requested Council wait until HUD responds with their decision before making any decision. Mr. Scott Matson stated he lives in mobile home park in Blaine and has been following this. He sees similarities to his neighbors and the residents of Lowry Grove. Mr. Matson stated this doesn't sound or seem fair and this same thing could happen to him. He noted that mobile home parks have affordable housing and as mobile home parks close, it is impossible for residents to find suitable housing. He felt this seems all about money but these are lives and futures. 10 Mr. Ned Moore, Development Director, Assembly for Civil Rights, stated their mission is to 11 bring the gospel into the public community. He has seen the devastation caused by mobile home 12 park closings. Two - thirds of the homes in Lowry Grove cannot be moved and the relocation 13 compensation is not enough. Mr. Moore stated there is no guarantee that people won't be left 14 homeless so the best solution would be for the residents to save Lowry Grove. The homes are 15 being demolished by bulldozers in front of children. He noted the mission of St. Anthony covers 16 the Lowry Grove residents but the future of Lowry Grove is not known. The Court has not 17 determined if the sale of Lowry Grove was legal. Mr. Moore believed the actions of the 18 developer are affecting people of color who make up the majority of Lowry Grove. He felt it 19 would be unwise for Council to make a decision before HUD has issued a ruling and the only 20 fair option is to continue the public hearing until the Courts and HUD have made their decisions. 21 22 Mr. Scott Anderson, resident of Lowry Grove, retired postal worker, stated he moved into Lowry 23 Grove to help raise his grandchildren. His home cannot be moved as it was rebuilt so he is stuck. 24 Mr. Anderson stated he has gone to every mobile home park looking for mobile homes for sale 25 and the average price is $30,000. He is 65, raising two kids, and he can't afford this. He spent 50 26 years working and he can't get out of there. Mr. Anderson stated there are two people dying of 27 cancer who will have to go to a nursing home and the taxpayers will pay. Lowry Grove is a 28 community of all kinds of people and recently there was a fight with non -Lowry Grove people 29 but the owners won't do anything about these non - residents. Mr. Anderson stated the St. 30 Anthony police has been very helpful to Lowry Grove and the problem is the RVers. If the 31 association is able to purchase the Park, there will be no RVers. Mr. Anderson stated there is no 32 other affordable housing in St. Anthony and three bedroom apartments are not affordable. 33 34 A Lowry Grove resident stated she does not feel represented by the City Council and the Council 35 needs to help. She has sent a letter to each of the Councilmembers and no one has bothered to 36 respond. She has lived in Lowry Grove for ten years and believes it has turned into a dangerous 37 place. She has tried to have a dialog with Ms. Tomas but Ms. Tomas does not show her faith or 38 the fact she has children. She stated there is dangerous machinery destroying their homes and 39 putting the children in danger yet Ms. Tomas is not concerned. Since the beginning they have 40 been looking for $6 million but the offers for homes is not adequate so they continue working to 41 try to salvage Lowry Grove. She believed that Ms. Thomas has no compassion and is planning to 42 build very expensive condominiums. She asked the Council for justice, stating she wants to 43 remain in Lowry Grove and had hoped the Mayor or Council would visit Lowry Grove residents. 44 She stated they are willing to pay for the land to get Lowry Grove back to them. She showed 45 pictures of some of the mobile homes within the Park and of homes being demolished. She stated 46 just this week, a letter was received from Ms. Tomas stating she cares but that is too late. 47