Palo Alto city manager sets aside funds for possible purchase of mobile home park, but first council must hear appeal
by Jason Green
Daily News Staff Writer
Palo Alto City Manager James Keene is setting aside $8 million in affordable housing funds to possibly help preserve Buena Vista Mobile Home Park as a source of affordable housing. In a Feb. 19 memo to Mayor Karen Holman and the City Council, Keene said the move was spurred by community members’ concerns about the impacts of the facility’s pending closure on 400 mostly low-income Latino residents.
The council is slated in April to take up an appeal of a hearing officer’s recent ruling that the Jisser family put together an adequate relocation assistance package. Keene said any decision regarding the $8 million would have to be made after the council hears the appeal.
“As you are aware, the council has a responsibility to impartially evaluate all of the issues and refrain from advocating – or appearing to advocate – on any side of this matter,· he wrote in the memo released Friday.
“In light of these constraints on the council,” he continued, “I am directing staff to set aside $8 million in affordable housing funds specifically for use in conjunction with the Buena Vista Mobile Home Park if the council should so direct after the pending appeal has been resolved. [Read full Daily News story…]