For years, Sylvia Jones, 88, and her two adult sons and a granddaughter lived in Jones’ house at 1460 Mescal St. in Seaside. On June 17, Jones relocated to an assisted living facility in Pacific Grove and left her belongings behind.
Jones moved not by her own choice, but as a conservatee of the Public Guardian, an office that steps in when there is reason to believe a person is unable to adequately care for and make decisions for themselves. The Public Guardian has decision-making authority and control of the assets of about 650 Monterey County conservatees.
“It was a somewhat chaotic scene because the conservatee’s family was not happy about what was happening and were somewhat combative with the Public Guardian,” according to court papers signed by Supervising Deputy Public Guardian Lizette Vasquez.
The Public Guardian was back in court on Oct. 1 to make the case to sell Jones’ home. Over objections from family members, Judge Julie Culver granted the County’s petition. The home was padlocked and the windows boarded up. It was listed for sale on Oct. 24 for $649,000 and is under contract as of Nov. 7.
The Public Guardian’s office declined to be interviewed for this story, but public court documents show officials believe Jones’ two sons and granddaughter were living in the home rent-free and using Jones’ money to pay for their own expenses.
On Oct. 30, a group of about 20 friends and neighbors organized through Building Healthy Communities are protesting out front, arguing that Jones is capable of making decisions for herself. On the garage door they’ve taped up a sign that reads, “Public Guardian stole this house.”
Lisa Lewis, a friend and Jones’ ex-daughter-in-law, is clutching an American flag. When a crew came by to remove Jones’ belongings, a neighbor alerted Lewis. She showed up and fished out objects with sentimental value from the trash, including this flag that she says was sent home with the body of Jones’ first husband, who was killed in the Vietnam War.
Lewis says Jones remains lucid and comprehends what is happening. She visits her elder regularly and in a recent video, recorded a conversation in which she told Jones about the sale of her home.
“They didn’t have the right to do that without talking to me,” Jones tells the camera. “That’s dirty. I’m gonna raise me some hell.”
While conserved, Jones herself is not in a position to raise hell, but Lewis is unrelenting. In an Oct. 24 letter to the court urging a judge to slow the process down, she wrote, “To the Public Guardian, Sylvia is just a case number, but for us, she is our family member who deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.”
At the protest, Regina Mason says the community could have readily stepped in to provide care if needed. She sees a systems failure that perpetuates a longstanding difficulty for Black families to build intergenerational wealth, and says a sale like this exacerbates gentrification of Seaside.
“What is happening here is an atrocity,” Mason says. “We could have helped resolve this, instead of coming in with guns blazing. This could have been a non-issue.”
The next hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 19.
(6) comments
Hear, hear Councilmember Miller!
Wow - this happens far too often. Something seems fishy. Be sure the person you choose to assist you in Senior Years is trustworthy. I hope she gets to keep her family home.
I am heartbroken for Sylvia Jones and her family. I am angry at the process that could yank someone from their home and force the sale of their home. I recognize we may not have the whole story, but why is this being rushed? So many questions - was she willingly support her family, as any of us would do? Forcing the sale of her home so quickly appears unjust on so many levels.
This seems overly harsh (aka to akin to Big Brother), if this was done behind her back and without her being able to give her views. What can't her sons live rent-free, if that is what she wants? Can't she have the house put into a Family Trust administered by her sons? Certainly I would need more information to ascertain how harsh this is, but it Alex Miller wishes to contact me, I'd be more than happy to look into this further. retlawdad@hotmail.com
Mrs. Sara,
I say this to the Community of Seaside, this was something that I was compelled to do and in "NO WAY" was my actions regarding what "I" did be any reflection on Building Healthy Community's. For some reason, I see that this organization was thrown in there and that should of never happened. My sincere apologies to BHC on this critical error.
Kudos to Ms. Rubin for reporting this story. Here is a letter I sent to the courts.
Dear Honorable Judge Culver:
I am a Seaside City Council Member and am writing this letter on behalf of a resident of our
city. Mrs. Sylvia Jones's family home is located at xxxxxxxxx St. in Seaside. I respectfully
ask the Court to consider postponing the sale of this home, which is currently listed on the
open market by the Monterey County Public Guardian.
Selling a person's home, which would close escrow right before Christmas, feels
unnecessarily harsh. The holidays are meant to be a time of peace, family, and comfort, not
the sadness of watching the family home be sold. To delay would allow a transition to
happen at a more appropriate and respectful time.
There are also practical reasons for delay. If the sale closes this year, the conservatee may
face significant tax consequences from the income realized before the end of the year.
Delaying would help avoid that financial burden and give time to appoint a proper guardian
who can represent her best interests moving forward.
It's also my understanding that the house is worth more than the current listing price.
Rushing the sale now could shortchange the estate. Allowing extra time could lead to a
fairer and more accurate price.
Most importantly, there remains a real chance that Mrs. Sylvia Jones could return home.
Selling it now would close that door forever. I've seen firsthand how important that
possibility can be. My own mother spent nine months in assisted living before returning
home, where she continues to do well. That return would not have been possible if her
home had been sold too soon.
I respectfully request a little time, compassion, and fairness in the decision-making
process, as it will have a lasting impact. A postponement serves the best interests of
everyone involved, especially the conservatee.
Thank you for considering this request.
Very truly,
Alex Miller
Council Member
City of Seaside
City Hall- 831-899-6703
Cell- 831-777-8317
amiller@ci.seaside.ca.us
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