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'CIT'Y OF SAN BERNARDI6..0 - REQUM FOR COUNCIL A :.-JoN
From: Councilman Jess Flores REC'D.-'AOMUf,uM'~: Mobile Horne Park Ad Ho Committee
Report
Dept: Council Office
ma1 AUG 27 PH 4: t';
Date: August 27, 1987
Synopsis of Previous Council action:
None
Recommended motion:
1. That minutes of Mobile Horne Park Ad Hoc Committee meeting held
August 25, 1987 be received and filed.
2. That Committee recommended actions be approved and appropriate
departments implement these actions as necessary and as soon
as possible.
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Signature
',- .-
Contect penon:
Phil Arvizo
Phone:
384-5188
Supporting data attached:
Yes
Ward:
N/A
FUNDING REQUIREMENTS:
Amount:
1\1 /lI
Sourca: (ACCT. NO.)
(ACCT. DESCRIPTION)
Finance:
Council Notes:
ZJ.
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MOBILE HOME PARK AD HOC COMMITTEE
August 25, 1987
ATTENDEES: Councilman Jess Flores - Chairmanl Councilman Tom
Minorl Councilwoman Valerie Pope-Ludlam, Deputy City Admini-
strator for Development - Jim Richardson, Community Develop-
ment Director - Ken Hendersonl Sr. Assistant City Attorney -
Dennis Barlowl Council Executive Assistant - Phil Arvizol
Mayor's Administrative Assistant Patti Gonzalesl Marie
Teetersl Art Ferrin, Clay Hage.
The Committee received a very thorough briefing on the
progress the County has made in all areas of the mobile home
issue - rent control, housing needs, senior citizen needs and
park purchases. County Supervisor Barbara Riordon's repre-
sentative, Marie Teeters, has been closely working all the
problems and a state-wide plan will be recommended momen-
tarily.
Mr. Ken Henderson was asked to prepare a recommendation
for the September 8th Council Meeting calling for a voluntary
statement of cooperation from mobile home park owners. The
owners would agree to hold rent raises in abeyance to allow
time for the Committee to review the latest information in
the Yucaipa Plan, survey tenants and owners, and analyze all
information prior to making a recommendation to the full
Counc il .
Meeting adjourned.
cilma~~~s
C irman
obile Home Park Ad Hoc Committee
JF:ej
'pACTS
DO YOU R&ALLY KNOW THE FACTS ABOUT MOBILE HOME RENTS 'I
THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 38 MOBILE HOME PARKS IN THE CITY OF
SANBERNARDINO. ABOUT 28 ARE OloMED BY INDIVIDUALS, OTHERS BY
PEOPLE WITH OTHER NOBILE HOME PARKS ELSEWHERE. THEN THERE ARE THE
ONES OWNED BY COMPANYS OR CORPORATIONS.
IN MOST CASES THESE PARKS WERE BOUGHT BY PEOPLE UNAWARE OF THE
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF A MOBILE HOME PARK. THEY SOON LEARN
THAT THEY CAN INCREASE THE INCI)ME FROM THEIR PARK BY RAISING THE
RENTS.... .REGARDLESS OF THE CONDITION OF THE PARK OR THE LOW INCGIE
OF THE RESIDENTS. ANlD TO HELP PROCURE EXCESSIVE RENTS, NOT BASED
ON OPERATING COSTS) THEY TURN TO THEIR MEMBERSHIP IN THE WESTERN
MOBlLEHOME ASSOCIATION THAT ASSURES THEM OF FENDING OFF RENT CONTROLS.
TO ILLUSTRATE THE INEXPERIENCE OF SOME PARK OWNERS AND THEIR RUSH
TO INCR&ASE RENTS A pRRK OWNER ADVISED OF AN INCREASE OF $17.00 and
NAMED PROPERTY TAXES AND FURNISHINGS AS NEED FOR INCREASE. A
COMMITTEE OF RESIDE1lTS PROCURED A CERIFIED COPY OF THE OWNERS TAX
PAPERS AND FOUND THAT THEIR TAXES HAD ACTUALLY GONE DmYN. NEXT, THE
OWNER WAS REQUIRED BY LAW TO INSTALL A CERTAIN VALVE THAT THE ORIGINAL
BUILDER HAD BOT INSTALLED. THE Ow;NER ADYISED THAT THIS NEW INSTALLATION
$34-.000.00. AGAIN THE RENTERS COMNITTEE PROCURED A CERTIFIED COpy OF
THE PAID BILL WHICH WAS ACTUALLY 13.400.00. THE OWNER WAS ATTEMPTING
TO COLLECT $26.724.00 FOR A $3,400.00 INSTALLATION. THIS ALSO BRINGS
FORTH THE FACT THAT A NEW OWNER MADE NO ATTEl'lpT TO CHECK THE CONDITIONS
OF THE PARK BEFORE PURCHASING IT AIm AS SOON AS THEY DID THEY DECIDED
'l.'iB RENTERS SHOULD PAY FOR THEIR (OWNERS i BONER.
ANOTHER CASE: SOME OWNERS PURCHASED ~~ POOL SIDE CHAIRS TO REPLACE THE
UNUSEABLE ONES. THEY ATTEMPTED TO COLLECT HIGHER RENTS QUOTING THE
CHAIR COSTS AS FOUR FOR $160.00 EACH. A TOTAL OF $640.00....ACTUALLY
THE. -CHAIRS COST $64.00 EACH OR A TOTAL OF $256.00.
~'S THE CASE OF NEW RENTERS BEING ADUSED THAT THERE WAS FREE SPACE
TO PARK THEIR RECREATION VEHICLES. LATER. THERE WAS A CHARGE ADDED TO
THEIR MONTHLY STATEHENT. AND. STILL LATER TOLD TO REMOVE THE REC.
VEHICLES SO THE OWNER COULD SET UP MOBILE HOMES IN THAT AREA.
ONE MOBILE HOME PARK IN SAN BERNARDINO IS REAL HEALTH HAZARD: NO
MAIN'rENANCE AT ALL. TRASH, GARBAGE, TERRIBLE PARK ROADS ETC. THE RENT
OF APPROXIMATELY $18'1.00 18 NOT SPEND ON ANY MAITENANCE. GRANTED THE
HENTERSARE NOT THE TYPE THE /l1TERAGE CITlSEN WOULD CARE TO MINGLE WITH.
STILL. THE SAN BERNARDINO~ HEALTH DEpART11ENT IS NOT DOING THEIR JOB IN
REQUIRnm THE OWNERS TO CLEAN THEIR PARK (THIS IS A FAllILY PARK) .
LEASES. RENTERS ARE REQUESTED TO SIGN LEASES, DRAWN UP BASICLY BY THE
WESlJERN MOB1LEHOME ASSOCIATION LAWYERS, THAT ARE RIDICULOUS IN DEHANDS
AND NO ALLOWANCES OR BWNEFITS FOR THE RENTERS.
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A 90 YEAR OLD MAN WAS ~AJ:,KED INTO SIG1HNG (YOU MUST SIGN TO LIVE IN
THE PARK) A LEASE FOR 15 :tEARS. IT IS DOUBTFUL THAT THAT MAN WOULD
LIVE THRU THE 15 YEAR LEASE AND ITS 12% YEARLY RAISE.
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REKTERS ARE BEING THREATENED INTO SIGNING LEASES WITH "OUT YOU GO
WITHOUT A LEASE". NO WHERE IS THERE A LAW THAT CAN THROW A TENANT
OUT FOR LACK OF SIGNING A LEASE WHEM SUCH A LEASE WAS NOT PRESENTED
TO THEM WHEN THEY MOVED INTO THE PARK. MANY OWNERS ARE ESPECIALLY
APPLYING THIS FORCE ISSUE TO THE ELDERLY.
. OVER 50% OF T'"rlE TENANTS ARE ON A - INCOME AMOUNTING TO LESS THAN $800.00
THEREFORE ARE UNABLE TO SAVE THE HIGH COST OF MOVING A MOBILE HOME.
FURTHERMORE WHEN YOU MOVE A MOBILE HOME THE DiU'IAGED SKIRTING, PORCH
AND CAR PORT ROOFS REPLACEl-lENTS.CANNOT BE MATCHED THEREFORE IT WOULD
BE COSTLY TO REPLACE WITH ENTIRE NEW ITEMS.
IN A RECENT ACTION ONE OWNER RAlBED THE RENTS SO HIGH THAT RENTERS
WITH AVERAGE INCOMES COULD NOT PAY SUCH HIGH RENTS. SOME AT ONCE
ATTEMPTED TO MOVE TO OTHER PARKS IN THAT AREA ONLY TO FIND THAT OTHER
OWNERS IN THAT AREA HAD JOINED FORCES WITH THEIR PRESENT OWNER AND
WOULD EITHER NOT RENT THEM A SPACE OR WOULD JUMP THE RENT MORE 'THAN.
THE PARK THEY i.;ERE FORCED TO LEAVE.
A PRESENT SITUATION: A RENTER SELLS HIS MOBILE HOME AND MOVES OUT OF
THAT PARK THE NEW OWNER OF THE MOBILE HOME IS ADVISED THAT HIS RENT WILL
$19.6.00 WHEREAS THE RENTER THAT SOLD THE PLACE WAS ONLY PAYING $170.00.
IN MANY CARES A JUMP OF THAT TYPE WOULD BE AS HIGH AS $40.00 OR $50.00.
REMBER TOO THAT WHEN THE ANNIVERSARY USED IN THE PARK COMES UP THE NEW
RENTKR MAY AND GENERALLY DOES FACE A~OTHER 10 TO 25 % RAISE WITHIN THE
I YEAR. THIS TRICK IS DONE IN 85% O~ ALL MOBILE HOME PARKS.
THERE IS ONE HOBILE HONE PARK INTHE SAN BERNARDINO CITY AREA THAT
ACTUALLY GAVE THE RENTERS A DECREASE.... .AND ACTUALLY HASN I T ASKED FOR
A RAISE !,'OR THE PAST THREE YEARS. THIS PARK IS ONE OF THE CLEANEST
AND WELL KEPT PARKS IN THIS AREA NOT ONLY BY THE OWNERS BUT BY THE
HAPPY RENTERS. RENTS ARE $125.00.
IF YOU THINK THAT $200.00 AND UP RENTS ARE NECESSARY LETS LOOK AT A
MOBILE HOI1E PARK OWNEB BY THE RESIDENTS.
A PARK OF 392 RESIDENTS: THEIR "RENTS" ARE $52.00 PER MONTH INCLUDING
FREE TRASH, SEWER, HOME GAS, WATER AND GENERAL MAINTENANCE. ONLY
UTILITES THEY PAY IS TELEPHONE AND ELECTRICITY. THE PARK HIRES A LADY
RECEPTIONIST FOR THE OFFICE', ..3 HOURS A DAY 5 DAYS A WEEK: A LADY TO KEEP
THE RECREATION HALL AND LAUNDRY (3) ROOMS CLEAN, ~ HOURS A DAY, 5 DAYS
A WEEK, A HAN TO MAINTAIN STREETS, PARK LAWNS, SHRUBS AND RUN THE~'P.\RK
OWNED STREET Sw'EEPER, 8 HOURS A DAY 5 DAYS A WEEK. AN ACCOUNTANT SPENDS
APPROXIMATELya2 HOURS A MONTH. AT TIMES THEIR OPERATION COSTS ARE
UND":R THE "$52.00" NO DEDUCTIONS ARE MADE AS THE OVERAGE GOES INTO
THEIR KITTY FOR FUTURE REQ,UIREMENTS AND NEEDS. BEnm A NON PROFIT PARK
THE OVERAGE FUllDS MUST BE ASSIGNED TO s<C;.HEDlrLED -NEEDS.
INCOME TAX REDUCTIONS OR WRITE-OFFS ARE A BENEFIT TO ffiPST MOBLLE HOME
PARK OWNER3 BUT THE OWNERS DON I T HAVE ANY THOUGHT IN THE DEMANDS FOR
RENT INCREASES IN THE SAVINGS THEY GET.
THE RESIDENTS OF ONE PARK OFFERED A FLAG POLE, FLAG AND LABOR IF THE
OWNER WOULD FURNISH THE CONCRETE FOR THE FLAG POLE.... TODAY THERE IS
NO FLAG POIJlE. THE OWNER OBJECTED BECAUSE "THE EXTREME YEARLY COST
OF MAINTAINING THE POLE & FLAG.
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INSURANCE. THE OWNERS DEMANDED REQUEST FOR RAISES GENERALLY
INCLUDES THIS ITEM. YES, INSURANCE IS NOT CHEAP---HOWEVER EACH
RENTER GENERALLY CARRIES INSURNACE COVERAGE WHICH BENEFITB THE
PARK OWNER TOO. WE KNOW AJ.i"Y BUSINESS HUST HAVE QUALIFIED INSURANCE
OOVERAGE. ALSD, ALL RENTERS MUST BE INSURED BOTH FOR THEIR MOBILE
- HOHES, SURROUNDING FACILITIES AND PROTECTION OF FACILITIES AND
EQUIPMENT OWNED BY THE OWNER.
ALL MOBILE HOllE PAFT{S GET A SMALLER KW ELECTRIO RATE THRU THEIR
MASTER METER. YET, THEY OOLLECT FROH THE TENANTS WHO HAVE AHIGHER
KW RATE....THE DIFFERENCE MORE THAN PAYS FOR THE PARK STREET LIGHTS
RECREATION HALLS OFFICES ETC THEREFORE THEY HAVE VERY LITTLE ELECTRIC
OHARGES IF ANY.
ONE PARK HAD BEAUTIFUL ENTRY LIGHTS ( COLOR GREEN): REGARDLESS OF VERBAL
OOJolPLAINTS FROM THE RESIDENTS THEY CUT OUT THE COLORED LIGHTS, PUT
IN CHEAPER LOW VOLTAGE BULBS WHICH CUT ANY ELECTIRICAL BILLS THEY
MIGHT HAVE AND IN DOING SO DEMORALIZED THE RESIDENTS AND BEAUTY OF
THEIR OWN PARK. THIS ALSO ADDED TO RISKS OF ROBBERY AND DAMAGE TO
BOTH THE TENANTS AND THE OWNERS PROPERTY. AGAIN, THIS BROUGHT ON
INCREASES IN PROPERTY TAXES.
IN ONE PARK THERE WERE NUMEROUS BREAKINS AND THEFT. SEVERAL RENTERS
BOUGHT THEIR Oi-IN WALKY TALKIES AND FORMED TWo.-~iAN PATROLS. THE PARK
FURNISHED ONE ELECTRIC CART (NOT BOUGHT FOR THIS PURPOSE) BUT STOPPED USE
OF IT WHEN A SEAT viAS SLIGHTEY BURNED ALTHOUGH T"rlE TENAN'l' OFFERED TO
HAVE THE SEAT REPAIRED.
HERE IS A FIVE YEAR RECORD OF A YF'..ARLY 10% INCREASE:
131 SPACES 1151.00 RENT - 119'781 (10% X 12M0) $23,736.00 $200,868.00
131 SPACES 166.00 RENT - 21,146 (10% X 12M0) 25,380.00 260,952.00
131 SPACES 183.00 RENT - 23,933 (10% X 1~10) 28,664.00 287,676.00
131 SPACES $201.00 Rent - $26,)31 (10% X 12M0) 31,596.00 321,972.00
131 SPACES $221.00 RENT - $31,596 (10% X 12MO) 37,920.00 347,412.00
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TOTAL INOREASE ONLY$147,290.00$1,419,176.00
IT MUST BE REME~IBERED THAT 95% OF THE MONEY SPENT BY THE TENANTS IS
SPENT IN THE SAN BERNARDINO AND THAT IS QUITE A FIGURE WHEREAS T"rlE
WESTERN MOBlLEHOME ASSOCIATION OFFICIALS ONLY SPENT '.-lHAT IT TAKES TO
INFLUENCE WMA ~rnMBERS, CITY OFFICIALS AND HONEST MOBILE HOME PARK
OWNERS THAT AOTUALLY DO NOT WANT TO FINANCIALLY WREAK THE ELDERLY OR
LIMITED INCOME RESIDENTS. FROM THESE PEOPLE THEY ARE TRYING TO 1".AKE
THEIR PROFITS ~THER T1RY OPERATE THEIR PA~S EFFICIENTLY OR NOT AND
MOST CASES NO EFFORT IS MADE TO GIVE A LlTTLE OR DO UNTO OTHERS AS THEY
WOULD BE DONE BY.
WE KNOB THAT THREE THiES A RENT ORDINANCE HAS BEEN REJECTED BECAUSE:
ASKING FOR A ORDINANCE THAT COVERED BOTH MOBILE Hru1ES AND APARTMENTS
OF' WHICH BOTH ARE ENTIRELY DIFFERENT RENTAL FACILITIES.
RADICALS POPING-OFF WITH NO PROOF' OF THE ACCUSATIONS OR DESIRES, NO
PROOF OF OWNERS DISCREPANCIES.
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COUNCILMEN WITHOUT QUALIFIED EXPERIENCE ON MOBILE HOMB PARK
OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE.
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NEl-lSPAPER ARTICALSIMPROPERLY QUOTED AND OPENLY AGAINST ORDNANCE'" .
WITHOUT INVESTIGATION OF THEIR OWN. ASSUMING THE MAN WITH THE MONEY
. IS BOUND TO BE CORRECT AND ABOVE APPROACH.
REAL ESTATE FIRMS OPENLY PROTESTING ORDNINCE AS CUTTING DOWN ON BUILDING
HOI.lES AND SALES OF SUCH, YET, SEVERAL REAL ESTATE FIRMS SELL MOBILE
HOl-lES AND TRACTS TO BUILD PARKS. NO WAY WILL THE OPERATION OR
BUILDING OF A MOBILE HONE PARK EFFECT AllY REALE STATE PROGRESS.
IF THE REAL ESTATE EEOPLE \-lANT SOHETHDi'G TO TALK ABOUT LET THEM TAKE
A GOOD LOOK AT THE NUMEROUS BOARDED UP HOMES, THE TO MANY HOHES AND
APARTMENT HOUSES THAT ARE NOT FULL OF RENTERS AND NEED REAL ESTATE
"BRAINS" TO CORRECT THIS INSTEAD OF CONDmlING A RESIDENTS THAT MANY
GOOD PEOPLE PREFER AND CAN AFFORD. HOW ~1ANY ELDERLY PEOPLE CAN TAKE
CARE OF A HOUSE WITH LAWNS ETC AT THEIR AGE.
MOST MOBILE HOME PARKS ARE NOT A SORE EYE TO THE AREA AND THE NUMBER
OF PEOPLE IN THAT SMALL AN AREA OF A MOBILE HOME: PARK CUTS DOWN ON
THE COST OF MANY OPERATIONS OF THE CITY FUNCTIONS.
WHY? WE THE MOBILE HOME RESIDENTS, WHY THE CITY OF SANBERNARDIBO
OFFICIALS WANT TO EXTEND 80% OF COUNCIL TIME TO OUTSIDE LAWYERS,
CORPORATIONS AND UNN8EDED GUESTS AND THE MAJORITY OF LOCAL RESIDENTS
ARE NOT GIVEN All EQ.UAL TIME RATHER THAN THE 20%.
WHY? WAS A REQUEST MADE THAT A MEBBER OF EACH MOBILE HOME PARK
BE ALLOWED TO PRESENT THEIR TllOUGHTS OR COMPLAINTS.....MOST OF SUCH
VOLUNTEERS ARE RADICALS AND ARE NOT REALLY REPRESENTING THE THOUGHTS
OF THE PARK THEY ARE FROM AND FURTHER MORE IT WOULD TAKE HOURS TO
ACCOMPLISH NOTHING. A COUNCILMAN ORIGINATED THE REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION
ON A RENT MORITORIUM AND HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE PARTY TO NAl1E A
REPRESENTATIVE TO DISCUSS THIS Sl.i'BJECT. INSTEAD A COUNTY PERSON WAS
CALLED ON TO PRESENT THE OPERAIONS ElF ANOTHER CITY \!lITH PROBLEMS FAR
FROM THE SUBJECT AND A COSTLY UN OPERA TABLE SYSTEM THAT SAN BERNARDINO
CANNOT AFFORD OR SUPPORT.
ANOTHER CITY OFFICIAL SPOKE FOR SOl-IE TIME ON A SUBJECT HE ADMITTED NOT
KNOWING TO J.1UCH ABOUT BUT WAS BEING PROHPlED BY THE OUTSIDE OPPUNENT TO
THE SUBJIlCT. TRIS OFFICIAL RECOt-'J1ENDED A TWO WEEKS MORITORIUN TO s.TUDY
THE "HARDSHIP" CASES.... THERE IS NO WAY SUCH A STUDY COULD BE DONE IN
6 MONTHS... .AGAnl THE CITY OFFICIEL WAS TALKING THRU THE WMP LAWYERS.
HOW MANY RESIDENTS ARE GOING TO TELL A STRANGER HOW BAD OFF FIANCIALLY
THEY WERE.
TO MAKE MATTER WORSE THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PARK OWNERS WERE
UNABLE TO ABSWER THE MAYORS QUESTIONS. IT APPEARED THAT THE NOTION HADE
MiD SECOnDED WAS DESIRED BY THE ~'1AYOR IN ORDER TO SET THE 90-DAY
MORITORIUM TO LET BOTH SIDE:S::DLLECT PROPER D~A AND. ,FACTS, liOWEVER,
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ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL UPSET THE }flEETING WITH UNETHICAL
QUESTIONS SHOWING THAT SEE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE SUBJECT BUT WANTED
TO GIVE ALL THE ADVANTAGES SHE COULD TO TEE UNQUALIFIED REPRESENTATIVES
OF THE PARK OWNERS.
THE IGNORANCE OF ALL THIS WAS THE FACT THAT PARLIAMENTARIAN RULES
WERE UNKNOWN BY THE COUNCIL OR \-lERE DELIBERTLY IGNORED. THE RULING
PARTY SHOULD HAVE SET UP A CERTAIN NUHBEROF MINUTES EACH SPEAKER
COULD TALK AND THE OPPOSING SPEAKER GIVEN THE SAME LENGTH OF TIME.
THE: .lIMA REPRESENTATIVES TALKED (AT A WHISPER) INBETWEEN TALKS BY TEE
CITY OFFICIAL, THEN, AN UN1\lTHORIZED PARK 'RESIDENT GAVE A TALK ABOUT
BUYING PARKS.....A FAR SUBJECT FROM THE SUBJECT OF THE MEETING...HE
SHOULD HAVE B~ml" STOPPED RATHER THAN ,TAKE UrTHE COUNCILB- TIME~, ['1;;
IT MUST BE ~mERED AT THIS TIME THAT ANY RECOr-U4ENDATIONS PRESENTED
BY THE PARK OiiNERS MUST HAVE FACTUAL CERTIFIED PROOF AND THE RESIDENTS
MUST BE ABLE TO CONTEST THESE STATEHENTS WITH FACTUAL PROOF. AT THIS
TIME NEITHER SiIDE IS ABLE TO DO THIS. THEREFORE THE QUESTION REJ>lAINS:
SHOULD THE CITY LET THE OW1IERS CONTINUE TO RAISE RENTS AND PUT LOW
!NCONE PEOPLE ON THE COUNTY POVERTY LIST.... OR. . . .GIVE THE RESIDENTS
,..._ANORDINANCE THAT WILL LET BOTH SIDES SIT DOWN AND, ARRIVE AT A
SATISFACTORY AGREEMENT.
PLEASE PUT THIS PROBLEM IN THE HANDS OF THOSE THAT KNOW ABOUT NOBILE
HOME PARKS AND THEIR RESLDENTS.
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