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Orono, Norma From: Susie Melo <susie@xotango.com> Sent: Tuesday, May 05, 2020 3:24 PM To: eComment Subject: Eviction Moratorium - Delayed Eviction Process Hello, We are adamantly opposed to any form of eviction moratorium because many people are using this as a way to avoid paying rent even if they can. This leaves us with the burden having to consult with attorneys and figure out how to deal with these situations, adding yet another expense that we can't afford. This is only creating bigger problems while enflaming tenant -landlord relations. When they end the moratorium there will be pandemonium in the courthouses. This is the wrong solution that unfairly places the financial burden on the landlord, many of whom would quickly become insolvent and unable to sustain their buildings if they don't collect their rent. The only solution is for our government (Federal, State & Local) to provide a rent relief fund that directly goes towards paying rent. This could be in the form of a grant for some and an interest free loan for others. My husband and I own several rental properties in Santa Ana and we are very disturbed by the lack of regard for landlords financial stability that recent mandates have created. My husband, an immigrant himself came here with only $500 to his name and no one to help him. We are now seniors who depend 100% on our rent for survival and upkeep of our properties. We have no mortgage to defer, so proposals to defer mortgages don't even consider us. Absent a mortgage, we must still pay property taxes, insurance, utilities, maintenance, repairs, license fees, inspection fees while also having to pay all of our personal bills. One of the most concerning aspects of this is that some (fortunately not all) tenants are taking this as a "get out of jail free" card, and trying to avoid paying rent at all regardless of the reason. Tenants everywhere are screaming to simply cancel rent. Then what?? Who pays our bills? Social media sites and television are just some evidence of how many renters are encouraging other to just not pay —this is their chance to stick it to landlords! We have been told first hand that some of our tenants are telling other tenants in the neighborhood to just not pay rent —just because they can. In one specific case, a tenant who is still working has been intentionally making it difficult for us to collect rent for over least 6 months. Now he is taking advantage of this opportunity to just say he doesn't have the money when we know he's working (and collecting stimulus money) yet he fails to provide any proof of being financially affected by Covid- 19. He is also one of the one's actively encouraging others to do the same just to damage landlords. Unfortunately, there are truly some people in need, however there is also a very large "entitlement" group that is just out to get landlords and feeling empowered by these mandates. This must stop or there will be chaos and less available housing for renters! The simple solution to stop the fighting is to put money directly in the hands of renters that can only be applied towards rent. Consider this — In Santa Ana where occupancy of a single family house is typically 5-9 people. In many cases multiple people in the same household are collecting $3200/mo unemployment and don't want to return to work because they are making more money now, yet there's no incentive to pay the rent. Landlords do not qualify for unemployment or little else. We need the City of Santa Ana to be on the right side of history and remove this burden from mom & pop landlords like us. I hope you will consider our situation and find a more viable solution like I mentioned above. Respectfully yours, Nestor & Susie Melo �S1