Bill would force mobile home parks to OK political signs

Thursday, Feb. 4, 1999 | 11:54 a.m.

Assemblyman Mark Manendo told the Assembly Commerce and Labor Committee he drew up AB39 at the request of constituents who have not been permitted to display signs.

"They feel this is a freedom of speech issue," he said Wednesday. "They feel their rights have been done away with."

Manendo, D-Las Vegas, said he knows of a park where one tenant can display a sign while her neighbor can't.

While agreeing to work with Manendo on amendments, mobile home park owner lobbyist Joe Guild noted that some homeowners' associations also outlaw political signs.

He said courts have upheld restrictions on freedom of speech in airports, shopping centers and against solicitors. Guild represents the Manufactured Home Community Owners.

But Commerce and Labor Chairwoman Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, told him about her own problems with mobile home park managers.

In her first Assembly race, Buckley said she placed about 200 signs in a 400-space mobile home park in Clark County. Later she delivered a speech in the park in support of more rights for tenants.

"The next day the landlord ordered all my signs removed," Buckley said.

Buckley asked Guild and Manendo to work on the bill and then bring it back to her committee for action.