here’s the rest; mentions grass measurement... I’ve heard of them doing that in areas of my town..
““not being human…if they were not acting like human beings, I was going to shoot them.” He since changed his plea to Not Guilty.
In yet another video, a desperate HOA director firmly declares their HOA meeting to be Out of Control. Listen to his very strange laugh as he closes down the meeting when one HOA resident told him, “You are mumbling.” He tells another resident, “Step away from the microphone…you are out of order…you can leave any time you wish…we’re at recess now.” He boldly tells another resident, “I don’t have to be polite with you, madam…ha, ha, ha.”
A source told me what happened at a Florida HOA meeting he attended. The meeting became heated and tempers flared when election results did NOT go the way of the entrenched board fossils. I’m quoting exactly now: “A bunch of loud mouth New York drunks” were out in the parking lot, at a local service club. When results of the BOD elections of officers did not go their way, this group began screaming, yelling, acting out, within earshot of Mets’ Stadium. As the Florida twilight turned into southern darkness, my source told me these NY drunks left.
How have HOAs grabbed so much power over the lives of educated, competent, high end achievers, retired professionals, widows, old men and women? Why do residents allow these condo commandos to take control of their money and use these dollars to make them miserable in their own homes?
The truth may rest in what an old man told me when I asked him to stand up to the HOA directors. He said, ” I fought my battles up North…I can’t fight anymore down here.” Yes, HOAs do maintain standards and keep up property values, to a point. However, when these HOA overlords and their heavy handed professional teams of lawyers, managers and repair people ignore the bounds of decency, an affected community can turn very quickly into a living hell. Resident is pitted against resident; people turn their neighbors in, often for petty infractions just to be vindictive for who knows what reason. The use of ridiculous spying methods, keeping a record of those invited into a neighbor’s home, building dossiers on residents–especially those not properly respectful of Association directors—this is the nonsense which must come to a halt.
I’m especially concerned about the use of those dreadful warning letters which do not contain the name of our accuser and which might actually be used as sources of HOA income. Silence, lack of transparency, over reach of authority all make for HOA misery.
If you are fed up and want your HOAs to treat you fairly and with respect, you may contact the following: State Senator Alan Hays (R-Umatilla) 850-487-5011; hays.alan.web@flsenate.gov/ He is in charge of HOA issues. The Florida Legislature convenes on Tuesday, March 3 for a short, one month only session.
Condo Commando Part 1 was posted March 13 on Coach is Right
SOURCES:
(1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrfukhbNqO8 Title: HOA Board Fist in Houston
(2) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8YveThMHEM
(3) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Coi56KF_ME
(4) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8yrKA-7mBI
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However, frequently, the cheapskate members keep dues so low that the HOA has no recourse if a homeowner doesn't comply. They can make threats and levy fines, but they can't enforce them because they have no money for legal fees.
OTOH:
I lived for several years in a rather quiet gated community that had private streets, its own water supply from two wells, and of course an automatic gate.
There were a handful of freeloaders who felt “entitled” and refused to pay for water, for upkeep, and for the electricity that powered the gate and the sole street light, even though dues were a mere $50 a month, including unlimited (not metered) water!
What could we do? One freeloader who refused even to pay the connection fee to the water system, we went out one Sunday morning and cut the pipe to his house. It was our only alternative.