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Parkwood Apartments owner urges Bakersfield action over event-hall nuisance at Moga Palace
Summary
Owners and manager of Parkwood Apartments told the council July 23 that events at the nearby Moga Palace social hall have created noise, parking spillover and safety concerns. They presented a petition signed by more than 200 tenants and asked city staff and police to follow up.
Frank Sinclair, owner of Parkwood Apartments, and Tracy Spencer, the complex manager, told the Bakersfield City Council on July 23 that a nearby social hall known as Moga Palace has become a persistent nuisance for residents and neighboring businesses.
Sinclair said Moga Palace, owned by Manik Bebir, has rented to large groups "and it's become louder and more out of control with large crowds." He told the council his 300-unit apartment complex has collected more than 200 tenant signatures on a petition asking for action. Sinclair said adjacent businesses, including a 76 convenience store, Howard's Mini Mart and Bolero Bowling Alley, also signed the petition.
"They've done some street takeovers over the years. There's been a couple shootings at the property, and it's really gotten to the point where we have to do something about it," Sinclair said.
Manager Tracy Spencer echoed Sinclair's account, saying tenants need quiet for children and infants and that the problem has continued despite prior complaints: "It's just not fair to the tenants ... we just need to get to a solution on this. It's been going on for far too long." Spencer said she and Sinclair had raised the issue previously and had recorded multiple incidents on video.
Council response and next steps: the mayor and council members said they would ensure follow-up with appropriate city departments. The council's representative noted the property and the apartment complex sit in different ward boundaries, which complicates immediate jurisdictional response, but staff said they would engage code enforcement and the police department and try to connect the petition to the responsible staff.
No formal action was taken during the meeting; staff agreed to follow up with the complainants and to route the petition to the appropriate departments.
Ending: Sinclair and Spencer left the petition with the clerk; the council said it would make sure code enforcement and police are aware and that staff would follow up with the residents.
