Working to Change the Culture

in Mobile Home Parks

How the Movie Moneyball Inspired Mr. Mike's Neighborhood

by Mike Whitty, Director

 

Moneyball centers on the Oakland Athletics' General Manager Billy Beane, who after a bad start as a MLB player, moved over to management and was driven by his hatred of losing. In his previous season, he'd taken the A's to the World Series, only to have them lose and see their best three players hired away by richer teams offering much bigger salaries.

 

Faced with rebuilding the team at bargain basement prices, Beane became persuaded by the theories of Peter Brand, a nerdy recent Yale graduate who crunched numbers to arrive at a strict cost-benefit analysis of baseball players.

 

He persuaded Beane that he should hire based on key performance statistics that pointed to undervalued players. Together, they assembled a team that seemed foolhardy at first, but during the course of an agonizing season, proved itself the biggest bargain in baseball.

 

They bet against tradition and in favor of numerical analysis. That goes against a century of baseball history.  No matter how many baseball brainiacs told them it wouldn’t work, no matter how many of his players didn’t believe in the system, no matter how much baseball laughed at him while he lost so many games at the beginning of the season, he stood his ground for his belief.  At the end, Beane created a winning team for less money then any team, and turned down an offer from the Boston Red Sox for 12.5M.  Boston ended up winning the World Series two years later using Beane and Brand's model.

 

I didn’t want to give away the whole movie, so if you haven’t seen it, do.  I would say it’s a great lesson in belief and perseverance, and one of the best sports movies ever.

 

So, how does Mr. Mike’s Neighborhood compare to Moneyball?  Mr. Mike’s Neighborhood is an offshoot of The Lafayette Place Neighborhood Association, which is the first Association Mike Whitty created.  It ran for one year until the park owner had their lawyers file a Cease and Desist Order to shut down the Association.

 

The Lafayette Place Neighborhood Association was created to fill a void that existed within the Community.  During research performed, there appeared to be systemic issues in many mobile home parks, and those same issues were happening here.  High rents, poor Management, no complaint follow-up, and a reduction of amenities.  Residents were treated like second class citizens, and many times verbally abused.  All this information was found on the internet with basic search criteria.  So the Association made a commitment to stand with, by and for their Neighbors under any circumstance.  And they have accomplished it to this day.  The Association has helped many families within their Community, and has been lauded by many with the phrase, “we appreciate you.”

 

When the owner filed the Cease and Desist Order, a resident came up to Mr. Mike, which he is affectionately called, and said, “please don’t give up on us!”  Thus, Mike created Mr. Mike’s Neighborhood to continue his efforts to change the Culture in one Community, and eventually around the country.  Mr. Mike’s Neighborhood has been in existence now for 19 months, and is totally funded by Mr. Mike, since he’s forbidden by the owners to take donations from the residents.

 

As with Moneyball whose goal was to change the way Baseball looked at hiring, Mr. Mike’s Neighborhood ‘s goal was to change the Culture in mobile home parks, from residents mistreated and taken advantage of, to exorbitant rents and shoddy Management.  Mr. Mike didn’t quit his quest once the owner sent their lawyers after him, because he believed so strongly in his pursuit that even their lawyers couldn’t stop him but for a minute.  Though he was always on the brink of eviction, Mr. Mike felt that the future of mobile home living, even if it was just within his Community, was at stake.

 

As with Billy Beane who had Peter Brand by his side, Mr. Mike has Linda Varee, affectionately known as Miss Linda, a 35 year resident at Lafayette Place Mobile Home Park who believed so strongly in the concepts of the Lafayette Place Neighborhood Association, that she never wavered in her commitment to her Community or Mr. Mike’s quest to make her Community a diamond in the rough.  She has single-handedly lifted the spirits of countless residents with her sparkling personality and willingness to help anyone she can.  She is tireless in providing children’s clothing and toys to those in need, and plays a tremendous role as Assistant Director for Mr. Mike’s Neighborhood.

 

By the way, Mr. Mike refuses to call anyone a resident, and instead, a Neighbor.  He feels it’s a sign of respect to everyone who lives in his Community.

 

In an article written by Brian Walker, he wrote, “Perseverance is the act of persisting through difficult situations or challenges, regardless of the obstacles that arise. It is the ability to keep going, to stay focused, and to maintain a positive attitude in the face of adversity. Perseverance is a trait that can be developed and nurtured, and it can be the key to achieving success in life.”

 

Billy Beane, Peter Brand, Mike Whitty, Linda Varee, all have conformed to Mr. Walker’s theory of Perseverance.  They persisted through difficult situations and challenges, maintained a positive attitude in the face of adversity, and stayed focused toward their ultimate goal.  These are the game-changers this country needs.  They are the visionaries who see the potential of what could be, rather than what is.