Tag Archives: Ridings

NYPD Employee Steals $366,380 From Woodbrooke Estates HOA

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guest blog by Nila Ridings

One would think a guy that worked in the evidence and property room of the NYPD as a control specialist would have a high level of integrity. Nope. Wrong. Danny Juliano was the president of Woodbrooke Estates HOA in Staten Island and convinced the board members he was getting a cheaper price on pool supplies over in New Jersey so they handed him the cash to make those purchases.

I don’t know about the readers of this blog, but I’d be questioning the need for $366,380 worth of pool supplies since October of 2011. I’d also be asking for receipts. 629 condo and townhouse owners just took a financial beating because their HOA board members were sleeping on the job!

Now, let’s sit back and watch to see what the NYPD will do to one of their own. Will he get community service? Will he be fired from his job? Will he go to jail? Will the homeowners ever see a dime of their stolen money again?

He was ordered to turn over his passport so possibly he will not set sail in his new yacht!

(link to story on Staten Island embezzlement)

 

The Big Fat Greek Food Truck

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guest blog by Nila Ridings

Greek food happens to be my favorite! As a matter of fact, I ate it for dinner tonight. This would be a dream come true for me to have Greek cuisine on wheels parked right next door! I would gladly offer to buy their leftovers.

But I do not live in Sugar Land, Texas in the New Territory HOA where the board president, Mike Pincomb is acting like a pinhead and bullying the owners of ‘Anna’s Greek Gourmet.’

It appears the CC&Rs allowed ‘work vehicles’ to be parked at a home until ‘Anna’s Greek Gourmet’ truck was considered to be one. Suddenly, the rules were changed and ‘work vehicles’ had to be parked inside the garage. Ahhhh, that prohibits this food truck from being allowed because it will not fit inside the garage. Next it was considered a home-based business because some lettuce is being cut inside the truck while it’s parked on the driveway. There was no mention that customers were coming up to buy gyro sandwiches or a speaker was blaring yia yia’s daily special. No, nothing distracting to their immediate neighbors is taking place. But somebody on the board has a bone to pick with this family business.

How is this truck any different than the plumber that is on 24 hour call and parks his truck with his tools in his driveway? Or the CAI card-carrying HOA attorney who loads his case files and computer into his Rolls Royce that he parks on his circle drive? Or even the Girl Scout leader who loads cases of cookies into her SUV for delivery?

The Zafiris family is trying to live the American dream. Like Anna says she is paying taxes and paying the HOA dues. She wasn’t breaking an HOA rule until the rule was changed in an effort that appears to target just her. Now, she’s losing sleep and probably wishing she’d never departed the Greek Islands.

This story brings back memories of AJ Vizzi and his pick-up truck ordeal in Florida. I sense this Greek food truck HOA battle will have the same outcome. (In case you missed the AJ Vizzi story, I’m posting it below.)

Opa, Anna! We are all behind you!

(link to Anna’s story)

Never forget A. J. Vizzi, the triumphant fighter against his HOA!

The HOA Tree Huggers

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guest blog by Nila Ridings

Michael Crick of Bridal Trails HOA in Bellevue, Washington loves trees but not ones that are diseased or at risk for falling on his home and possibly killing his family. So, he obtained the proper permits and the city arborist determined the trees he marked for removal were correctly selected.

The cutting began and suddenly a dozen neighbors arrived, including the HOA president, Ray Reass. The number one tree hugger offered Mr. Crick the standard advice given in all HOAs. MOVE! That’s right, if you do not want to take the chance of a dead tree falling on your house and family just MOVE!!! And then she so politely says, “Good Day.”

I can relate to Crick and his tree issue. Next to my garage, on HOA common ground were two very old and very tall trees that started turning brown and dropping needles like rain drops. The HOA removed one tree, but I think it was done more for the purpose of the neighbors who video tape my every move. With that tree out of the way they had a much better shot of my bedroom window and driveway.

My requests to have the other tree removed fell on deaf ears and were ignored. I called an arborist who said it was diseased and a wind storm could blow it down. Being in the the direct line of west winds blowing,  my garage, kitchen, and living room would be destroyed should that tree have fallen. I would have lost two vehicles, my entire kitchen, and everything in my living room. I decided to check with my insurance company about my coverage. I was instructed to write a letter to the property manager letting him know since he was being paid to manage the HOA and had been made aware of the dead tree if it fell on my house my insurance company would pay for the damage, minus my deductible, and then sue him for payment.

Shortly after writing the email to the property manager, I left town for three days. Guess what was gone when I arrived home?

(link to KOMO story about dead trees)

 

Increase Your Credibility By Always Documenting

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guest blog by Nila Ridings

A townhouse complex in San Jose, California had a fire and two pets were killed.  As sad as that is, it could have been far worse.  Why? Two fire hydrants were non-functioning.

Residents claim they have reported these broken fire hydrants to the departments responsible for maintaining them.  Yet, the spokesperson is saying this was the first they heard of it.

Folks…we now live in a society where every contact you make MUST BE DOCUMENTED.  

When you make a call, write down the name of the person you are speaking with, the number you dialed, and their job title.  Make note of the date and time.  Ask for their employee ID, phone extension, location or call center where they are located.  If you are transferred to another person, repeat the process.  Make detailed notes of the message you are conveying.  And make detailed notes of what action they agreed to take and when.  Any future communication or documents to or from anyone on this topic must be added to the original.

Should something like non-working fire hydrants happen you can pull your spiral notebook out and say, “I reported that on date, time to Mr. Hydrant the Head Engineer at 555-5555 x 515.”  Nobody should argue with you when your documentation is detailed.

Better yet, make your communication in writing via email or a typed or handwritten letter. Keep a copy of it.  And keep a copy of any written responses.

These efforts will pay off when you win battles with people who claim no knowledge of ever hearing about a problem.  Had the folks making their claim for reporting these fire hydrants documented those calls somebody would now be sitting in a hot seat.

We know from previous condo fires the outcome is never positive for the owners.  Perhaps this one will be an exception but I doubt it.

Harriet Vallen Is A Brave Woman

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guest blog by Nila Ridings

There is one thing I have never figured out about HOAs. Why do they hate the American flag so much? Why is it so wrong to be patriotic in an HOA? What is it about the stars and stripes that irritates the nerves of an HOA board so badly?

Harriet Vallen currently lives in The Ranches HOA in Eagle Mountain, Utah and she is moving to another home inside this same HOA. She is taking her magnetic American flag mailbox wrap with plans to attach it there. I say “plans” because she may change her mind when she learns how brutal the HOA board can be over something as small as a flag on the mailbox or in a flower pot. Remember Larry Murphree in Jacksonville, Florida among many others?

Mrs. Vallen has apparently stood up to this HOA board in the past. She is on their radar screen now. It’s just a matter of time before she’ll wish she had moved miles and miles away from The Ranches in Eagle Mountain. It won’t be long before those letters will arrive on the letterhead of the HOA attorney’s office. Oh, how I wish I could have a sit down visit with Harriet!

I did find several bits of humor in the video. One shot shows the back of an enclosed trailer parked on the street with the tire on the curb. Another shows a travel trailer attached to a pick-up truck and parked on the street. And it appears the mailbox is leaning towards the street with chips in the brown paint. All of that, but the focus is on the removable magnetic American flag. Most of all, I cracked up seeing the dinner bell used as the “A” on The Ranches entrance sign. It makes me wonder? Do they ring that at six o’clock sharp and every homeowner must sit down for dinner or be found in violation of The Ranches “time to eat” rules?

Keep in mind the more power these HOAs get, the more power they want! And their lobbyists will see to it they get it!

(link to KSL story on the next big nastiness)