Cottonwood Village

Concerning Cottonwood Village MHP’s (CV) policy of requiring applicants to provide social security numbers and other identifying information:  CV is a private landlord that rents space within its community to manufacture home owners to be occupied by the owner as their personal residence. ...

CV is entitled to make non-discriminatory decisions regarding to whom it will rent and allow to live in the community.  In order to evaluate financial and personal history of its applicants CV collects applicant’s identifying information. That information is used only to make sound decisions concerning residency.  Also, if the individual ultimately becomes a resident, that information is used in the event of an emergency, breach of lease or other reasonable business reason.  The information is kept confidential and destroyed when no longer needed.    CV is transparent about its standards for accepting applications for residency.    Concerning monthly rental costs, security deposits, etc., that information is given to applicants.  To state otherwise is absurd.  Applicants will not apply to a community until the applicants knows the rent and other monthly charges.  To say that information was withheld from complainant is not accurate.    Concerning the invoice, CV has credible evidence that the complainant violated CV’s rule against subleasing.  The invoices were addressed to the previous tenants because those individuals were the residents listed at that space.    Concerning Spanish being spoken: a large portion of CV residents are Spanish speakers and therefore the CV staff are mostly bilingual.  Staff members are free to communicate with each in whatever language they feel comfortable.  They communicate with residents and members of the public, such as complainant, in the language those persons feel more comfortable.  However, no individual has the right to demand only a specific language be spoken in his/her presence.   Finally, CV disputes that complainant objected to Spanish being spoken in her presence “politely” as she alleges.  In fact, complainant was rude and insolent to staff.  That is reflected in her characterization of Spanish as a “foreign” language.  In fact, Spanish is an official language in the State of New Mexico.      Complainant hired an attorney.  That attorney and CV’s counsel were able to work out an amiable solution to this situation.  No lawsuit was ever filed and the matter has been resolved.  CV will continue to provide its residents and future residents with the highest quality manufactured housing community.  CV provides much needed housing in Santa Fe and we are proud of our service, our staff, our residents and our community.