San Rafael tenants and Legal Aid urge city oversight after mobile-home park settlement

San Rafael — Dozens of residents and advocates told the City Council on Feb. 2 that long-term mobile-home park tenants are losing tenancies and that city commitments from a 2023 settlement may not be enforced in practice.

DeMarco Garcia, a housing attorney with Legal Aid of Marin, said residents from the San Rafael Mobile Home Park on West Francisco Boulevard are experiencing displacement and asked the city to "actively monitor what's happening and ensure that its ordinances, settlements, and housing commitments are enforced in practice, not just on paper." Resident Julio Santay said management repeatedly threatened tenants and that many families have left the park.

Herman Privette, who said he had lived in Marin for 50 years and had been involved in the rent-control actions, recounted a history of management changes and disputes about rent increases and settlement terms. He said fewer than half of the households present at the time of the 2023 settlement remain in the park.

City staff and the city attorney told the council that the city has been in communication with the park's parties and that staff are "working on it." The council did not take formal action at the Feb. 2 meeting but heard comments and asked staff to continue their outreach and enforcement efforts.

Next steps: The city attorney and staff signaled ongoing engagement. Councilmembers and staff agreed to continue monitoring and will report back as staff follow up on enforcement and legal actions.