Ë®¹ûÅÉAV

Tony Schillo told Ë®¹ûÅÉAV that in November he received a notice to vacate his unit at Rolling Hills Manufactured Home Park from ownership. The notice, which he shared with Ë®¹ûÅÉAV, does not provide a reason for the eviction. It only says, "The Landlord is electing to terminate this Lease." The notice required him to vacate his unit by the end of Thursday.

Speaking to Ë®¹ûÅÉAV on Friday afternoon, Schillo said he was waiting for the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office to enforce the eviction.

Park owner Kim Berry declined comment to Ë®¹ûÅÉAV.

Schillo lives at the park with his wife and two children, ages 3 and 13, and they're expecting a third child this year. They've stayed at Rolling Hills for the affordable rent, he said, but the poor water quality has been such a persistent issue that they would be looking to move even if they weren't being evicted. As reported by Ë®¹ûÅÉAV last year, the park's water has contained high levels of PFAS, or "forever chemicals," which have been linked to health problems like increased risk of kidney and testicular cancers, liver disease and reproductive damage.

Since his family moved into the park, Schillo said, neighbors have told him, "Don't drink the water." Instead, his family has purchased bottled water for drinking, washing and brushing their teeth.

The park was by the state Department of Health for having forever chemicals in its water throughout 2022, the most recent year drinking water compliance data is available. The park is now listed as "no longer in violation." However, Schillo provided Ë®¹ûÅÉAV a copy of a boil water order issued in December by the Onondaga County Health Department due to "inadequate disinfection."

Along with contacting the health department, Schillo has attempted to address the water quality and other problems, including just 10 psi of water pressure in his unit, with park ownership. He acknowledged that they've "gotten into it," but still believes he's been singled out for speaking up. In January, he said, he was the only resident to receive a list of unit violations, which included "overgrown vegetation," "repair home" and "illegal pet." After he called attention to the fact that no one else received such a list, he continued, others residents were issued them.

Schillo has also sought legal counsel over the potentially retaliatory eviction, but said he has not been able to afford a lawyer who can help him until it is underway. 

As he weighs his options, Schillo said he's staying mindful of the advantages of having to move out of the mobile home park.

"Up at camp my oldest daughter loves being outdoors," Schillo said. "Here, she doesn't like being outside."