As mobile home park owners, we can understand Mr. Strasser’s frustration with the process as set forth in his letter published (“Strasser: What is at stake with rent control initiative,” Feb. 16, http://bit.ly/N5FBrl ).

However, we are also frustrated with Mr. Strasser and the Save our Seniors group for wanting to push forward with an ordinance when their issues are being resolved without the need of the ordinance and without additional costs to all the taxpayers of Lake County, which they do not seem to understand will be required with a rent control ordinance.

A nonprofit organization has purchased one park and another park offers subsidies to needy seniors.

Many parks in the county offer a long-term lease which was put together over five years ago with input from a panel including representatives of the Board of Supervisors, owners of mobile home parks and residents of parks.

This lease includes most things covered by a rent control ordinance. The rent increases on the long-term lease are based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) covering real increases and not the Social Security cost of living increase which is not based on reality. There is an agreed-upon minimum and maximum annual increase in the lease based on CPI.

Mr. Strasser stated that the majority of the Board of Supervisors seemed hostile to rent control. Before unsuspecting voters sign a petition or vote for an ordinance, we suggest you talk with your elected city and county officials and ask what their research tells them will be the real cost of administering a rent control ordinance in order to comply with state law.

Also consider what will happen in Lake County if owners of parks are bound by an ordinance which does not even allow them to pass through increased costs which are government mandated (water, sewer, fire fees, taxes, etc.) unless over 50 percent of the residents agree to pay them.

Lake County has some of the lowest rents in all of California and most park owners are willing to work with their residents who have financial issues. Tying the increase in rents to a Social Security Index based on the age of residents who are not even qualified to receive Social Security does not make any sense.

If the government wants to subsidize housing costs, then they should buy the properties and subsidize the residents.

Business owners who are doing their best to maintain their properties, keeps the rents as low as possible and have good resident relations should not have to be penalized for those efforts.

There is an effort afoot to pass a tax to improve the quality of Clear Lake which in turn will help the economy. A rent control ordinance will create the opposite result. It will lead to the deterioration of properties due to restraints placed on owners unnecessarily and to the County’s detriment.

Jerry McQueen and his wife Mary Ann own Northport Trailer resort in north Lakeport, Calif.