Story Archive

Yes, We Have no Poor

After Glucklich LLC bought the Manatee County mobile home park in Palmetto, Fla., they made several improvements. “They have redone all our roads,” resident Sharon Brittain, 79, said. “She bought us a pool table and ping-pong. She got the drugs out of here.” But one change has several residents upset. Pearl Jones, 81, received a letter from park manager Tonia Sonju ordering her to stop taking deliveries from a local church food bank, or face eviction. “This lady is from California and she said no one in here needs it,” Jones said. “She thinks everyone in here has a lot of money. Well, I need it.” But not all residents think the policy is a bad thing. “Our prospectus states no food banks are allowed to deliver in this park without prior permission,” Brittain said. “And then we need to know who needs help because if they are destitute we would want to get all the social services for them.” Residents are complying with the order, though. “The owner had her people follow the delivery trucks and mark down the numbers of the trailers who got it,” Jones said. “Now, no one will accept the food. They don’t want to be evicted.” (MS/Bradenton Herald) ...Comments should be directed to the sand where the manager’s head is buried.