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Residents accuse Bell of eviction notices and poor service as council discusses relocation plan
Summary
Multiple mobile‑home park residents told the council they were served pay‑or‑quit and 60‑day termination notices and say the city has refused rental assistance, rejected partial payments and failed to translate key documents; city staff said emergency electrical repairs affecting about 25 homes will cost approximately $180,000 and that relocation and repair planning continues.
Dozens of residents of Bell’s mobile‑home parks urged the City Council to halt relocation plans and address immediate habitability problems, saying eviction notices, interrupted utilities and lack of translation have deepened community distress.
At least 15 people spoke during the public‑comment period, describing a string of actions they said threaten longtime residents. “Residents who are attempting to pay are being served eviction notices,” one speaker said, adding that the city allegedly refused rental assistance and rejected partial payments despite earlier promises. Several speakers said they had been served three‑day notices to pay rent or quit along with 60‑day termination notices.
Multiple commenters described health and habitability problems at the parks, including outages of hot water and sewage issues, and said the city’s relocation impact report and outreach have not reflected the barriers tenants face — credit checks, first‑and‑last rent requirements and limited affordable options.
City Manager Michael (City Manager’s office) responded in the council meeting, saying the Spanish version of the relocation report is available on the city website and that staff has held community workshops and distributed materials. He confirmed there was an electrical failure that affected main panels at the mobile‑home parks and described emergency temporary power for roughly 25 homes. "These emergency repairs for the electrical issue are going to cost the city approximately $180,000," he told the council and audience, calling the work an emergency and saying the funds are not CDBG grant funds.
Residents and advocates pressed for clearer, written assurances that relocation assistance and required notices will be provided consistent with Los Angeles‑area relocation requirements, and asked for translations and documentation requested previously by residents. Council members directed staff to look into reports of no hot water and to continue outreach; the city manager said staffing of rights‑workshops and delivery of meals and other support services is ongoing.
The council did not take final action on relocation in the meeting; the city manager said items relating to funding and next steps will return to council for future decisions. Residents said they will continue to request documents and meetings.
Next steps: staff follow‑up on emergency repairs, confirmation of translation and relocation‑assistance documentation, and future council items for funding or policy direction.
