Another reason to avoid giving to the Seminole casinos at all cost... (Hollywood: 2013, lease)

[BrowardPB]

Residents picket Seminoles' plans to close mobile home park

After abrupt notice, Seminole Estates homeowners angry and scared

Michael Mayo
Sun Sentinel Columnist
7:17 p.m. EDT, September 17, 2012


Angry and scared, soon-to-be evicted residents of the Seminole Estates mobile home community took to the streets on Monday.

"I don't think we have much recourse," said Lois Marano, 79, a 40-year resident. "But we've got to try something."

So they tried a protest. They stood along State Road 7 just past 3 p.m., holding up signs and waving to cars headed to the Seminole Tribe's two casinos to the north.

"Don't support the Indian casinos," one sign read.

"Elderly being thrown out with nowhere to go!!" read another.

On Friday afternoon, the tribe gave notice that the community would close in 2013, and that some amenities – like the pool, recreation center and bowling alley – would shut immediately. On Saturday, hundreds of homeowners had to meet outside, in the broiling heat, because the clubhouse had already been fenced off and padlocked.

On Monday, homeowner association president Nancy Gallagher said she was exploring political and legal options against the sovereign tribe.

"It's very, very cruel of the Seminoles," said Sandy Ladue, a 10-year resident. "There are a lot of elderly here, people in their 80s and 90s, people who are disabled and in wheelchairs, people with no family."
Around 1,500 non-tribal members live in 718 units on the property, which sits on the Seminoles' Hollywood reservation. Residents own their mobile homes, but they pay rent to the tribe for the land and amenities. As land has become more scarce in South Florida, many mobile home communities have closed and been redeveloped.

Earlier this year, the Seminoles bought out the management company that held a lease to run the mobile home park through 2024. The Seminoles now say they need the land for tribal housing, with 200 families on a waiting list.

"Everybody was expecting something to happen," said Ann Mela, a resident for five years. "But the way they did this was harsh."

Earlier this year, the tribe said it intended "to continue to operate a first-class mobile home community."
"Plans change," tribal spokesman Gary Bitner told me Monday. He said the closure does not need approval of federal authorities.

Said Ladue: "When they took over in March, they said how much they cared about us, how much they respected the elderly. Then all of a sudden, 2 o'clock on a Friday afternoon – boom! – they fire the pool workers, they fence off all the amenities and we're goners."

The site has been a mobile home park since 1969, providing the tribe revenue before they got rich from casinos. In 2008, a dispute with the longtime management company led to the tribe's armed takeover of the property and a lengthy court battle. At that time, the Seminoles gave residents assurances that the site would remain a mobile home park through 2013.

The Seminoles are offering $3,000 to year-round residents with household incomes less than $40,000 who leave by Dec. 31. But snowbirds and higher income residents get nothing.

"They could afford to be more generous," said Ladue, noting each tribal member gets over $10,000 a month from casino profits.

With this approach, the tribe might be buying itself a lengthy public relations headache.

(emphasis mine)

Source

Do not support this crap. A waiting list for housing for 200 tribal families? At over $10,000 a month each from casino profits, I'm sure they can afford to live elsewhere...nicely.

Go to the Isle of Capri Casino at Pompano Park, the Mardi Gras Casino at Hollywood Park, or the casino at Gulfstream Park, where at least the tax revenues help to fund schools, universities, and scholarships.

[rootzdread]

Seminoles and us Native descended people have to look out for our own because no one else is going to do it for us, so that's why you're spewing your hate? It's okay for those 200 families to be without a home as long as you have one huh? That's Seminole land for your information. Remember white people do this all the time to brown and black people to build their new condo buildings among other things.

[BrowardPB]

Originally Posted by rootzdread

Seminoles and us Native descended people have to look out for our own because no one else is going to do it for us, so that's why you're spewing your hate? It's okay for those 200 families to be without a home as long as you have one huh? That's Seminole land for your information. Remember white people do this all the time to brown and black people to build their new condo buildings among other things.

No hate here. The Seminoles are free to do what they wish with their land, just like I and others are free to spend our money as we wish.

If they so choose to kick out long-time disabled and elderly residents with a measly payoff of $3,000 (if they even qualify) who, no less, provided the tribe with revenue before they got rich from casinos, for 200 families each earning a $120,000+/year gaming dividend who happen to be on a housing waiting list, then I choose not to contribute to it. And I strongly encourage others not to, either. Even worse that the residents were told earlier in the year that the tribe was going to continue to operate the community, then they took it back!

The Seminoles aren't the only joint in town. You're going to look out for your own? I'm going to look out for the future of our children. At least that's where a cut of the money is going...

[JimboUSMC17]

I don't know but it is their land. And residents of the mobile home park did know that it was a possibility being that they rent the land. I feel bad for those families but they at least have plenty of time to look for a new place to live.

[gunner1970]

It appears to me the tribe is racist. Spewing their hate and racism against the most vulnerable people in our society. Just down right wrong of them. There is just somethings in life that are wrong and this is one of them. Unbelievable!

[orangejuicemiller]

Since the Seminoles became wealthy stealing money from people who are dumber than dirt and they is no shortage of morons, they really should just pay all of the costs associated with relocating these people and their mobile homes.

[roadtrip75]

Originally Posted by rootzdread

Seminoles and us Native descended people have to look out for our own because no one else is going to do it for us

Wait, did Seminoles suddenly lose their US citizenship?

The US government has a very generous package of freebies for poor people, including health care, housing, and food. Native Americans also have the opportunity to participate in the most successful and desirable society on the planet, the place where everybody is clamoring to move to.

[vsmoove]

Originally Posted by roadtrip75

Wait, did Seminoles suddenly lose their US citizenship?

The US government has a very generous package of freebies for poor people, including health care, housing, and food. Native Americans also have the opportunity to participate in the most successful and desirable society on the planet, the place where everybody is clamoring to move to.

Yes, it must be just wonderful to be a Native American... in all seriousness, sounds like a pretty crass way to operate even if they are well within their rights... also shocked about the $10,000 per month claim... I'm sure only certain folks get that much money... perhaps the more Native blood, the more you get.

[OptimusPrime69]

I just wish they would do away with mobile home parks.....period.

[THX 1138]

Originally Posted by OptimusPrime69

I just wish they would do away with mobile home parks.....period.

Then that means you'd have to find a new place to live right?