Valley Oaks residents encouraged by visit from governor

By: TOM PFINGSTEN - Staff Writer
Some frustrations persist as residents ponder future | Tuesday, October 30, 2007 11:46 PM PDT ∞

FALLBROOK -- Terrence Swanson has been frustrated and upset since losing his home in last week's Rice Canyon fire, but he got an unexpected lift Tuesday from a one-on-one chat with the governor.

"I think it's a good thing to see him come in here," said Swanson, pausing from his frustrations to reflect on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's visit to the fire-ravaged Valley Oaks mobile home park where about 100 houses were lost. "It made me feel good that my governor's here and wants to see it for himself."

Swanson pointed out items he recognized in the rubble of his home and explained his plight to the governor Tuesday morning.

Schwarzenegger did not say much, but listened, nodded solemnly and shook Swanson's hand before continuing on his tour.

"That's why we're here," the governor told Swanson. "We don't want to forget anyone."

Other residents who lost their Valley Oaks homes say they also were encouraged by Schwarzenegger's low-key, personal 45-minute visit, during which he toured the park on foot and spoke with those who lost homes in one of Fallbrook's hardest-hit neighborhoods.

Elsewhere in Fallbrook, the recovery effort appeared to be gaining steam, with cars lining the streets near the assistance center set up off Heald Lane and homeowners meeting with insurance adjustors along the town's charred outskirts.

But some said they were frustrated by red tape and delays.

"I think everybody's kind of getting the run-around," said Swanson, who lived in Valley Oaks for more than six years.

Swanson said he and his wife were told to evacuate later than many of their neighbors on the day of the fire -- allowing them to pack fewer valuables than they would have liked -- and since losing their home have had trouble finding housing.

At an apartment complex in Escondido offering reduced rates for fire victims, Swanson said he was told he would need a co-signer and proof that he earned triple the $1,329 rent every month in order to move in.

"They're not price gouging, but they're making the minimum requirements to get in harder than it was to buy a home," he said. "It almost felt as if we were being discriminated against."

Ralph Fitzgerald, who lived at Valley Oaks, said he hoped the governor's visit would lead to more assistance for the park's residents.

"It seemed like Fallbrook kind of got shortchanged in the San Diego media" during the television coverage of last week's fires, Fitzgerald said. "Fallbrook would be mentioned maybe every five hours, and there was no information about road closures or those things.

"Any attention is good, but I don't know there's much (the governor) can do," he added.

Reporters were conspicuously absent from the governor's visit. Soldiers, who have been stationed at the entrance since last week to control traffic in and out of the park and watch for looters, said the media was barred because the governor wanted to speak only with homeowners. The North County Times was interviewing Swanson when Schwarzenegger arrived.

Residents of Valley Oaks said the governor's visit was a good sign, after a week of not being able to find news of Fallbrook on local TV stations or through other regional media outlets.

The future of Valley Oaks, where residents own their "modular" homes but pay rent to keep them on park-owned property, has not been publicly discussed.

Some residents have said they do not wish to return, while others say they love living in the park and hope to be back as soon as they can get a new mobile home to replace their old one.

Residents who spoke with Schwarzenegger said they were not sure how much help they would get from the state, but that it was nonetheless a pleasant surprise to see the governor tour the park.

"He said he's going to make sure we're taken care of, and I truly believe he will," said Debbie Zytkewicz.

For many of those trying to get back to a normal life, the first step will be meeting with insurance adjusters.

On Tuesday, just after Schwarzenegger interrupted a meeting with her adjuster, Zytkewicz said she had lived in the park for 1 1/2 years, and loved every minute of it.

"It was a great park -- very neighborly," she said. "Of course, Fallbrook's like that anyhow."

As for her plans, she answered like many others have in recent days -- it's all up in the air.

"I'm going to go out of the area, but I would, at some point, love to come back. I feel at home here."

-- Contact staff writer Tom Pfingsten at (760) 740-3516 or tpfingsten@nctimes.com.

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