Hello All!
I have a new book coming out! Exciting for me because it has absolutely NOTHING to do with Homeowners Associations! I’m lazy, and haven’t gotten it up on Amazon yet. But this Memorial Day weekend seems to be an appropriate time to announce it to the good folks on this blog.
As many of you know, I come from a longtime military family. I was blessed to have the most wonderful parents and the most fantastic upbringing in the world. This book is all about growing up in a truly wacky family of Army Brats. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll be inspired. It’s called Get This Mother Published!
Have a look at my website, now under construction:
http://www.wardlucas.com
Free shipping to any reader of my blog, and it’s available now!
Ward
guest blog by George Staropoli
Florida attorney and CAI member Donna Berger posted the following question, “Why do you need to listen to the dissenting voices in your community?”, on the Becker & Poliakoff Community Association Law blog. (http://www.communityassociationlawblog.com/2016/05/why-you-need-to-listen-to-dissenting.html).
She wrote, in part, “One of the first things leadership training establishes is that discordant voices in an organization can be extremely beneficial to growth and the ultimate success of that organization.” I commented:
“Good advice.
“I see a reason for the hostile response by many board members, beyond rude and angry behavior of some members, is that HOA directors are not schooled in the requirements to be a representative of the ‘people.’
“Unlike a business, governing representatives must be educated to accept the reality that dissent is part of the job and they must be able to respond in a positive manner. That they are to carry member issues and concerns to the entire board for resolution.
“If they cannot, then the job is not theirs. If the job is beyond their pay grade, they should also not serve.
“So, why is there a failure to educate themselves on what it means to be a representative of the people?”
Whew! I don’t know any of this for sure. But the rumor mill says that Las Vegas Homeowner, Jonathan Friedrich, has won another battle against a Homeowners Association that claims his home is within their boundaries and wants him to pay dues. They’ve lost before, but since HOA lawyers have an unlimited budget they’re taking him to court again and again. A judge sanctioned them once before, awarding Friedrich $5000. The rumor today is that the judge sanctioned them again today for another $5000.
Sanctioned twice and the issue hasn’t even gotten to decide Jonathan’s damages!
Jonathan has all the paperwork to show his house was never included in the original HOA. But remember, HOA lawyers aren’t stupid. They know that when an HOA has an insurance policy, they can run up the bills until everyone in the HOA goes broke and they get rich.
When Jonathan’s HOA was created they put up a gate, which illegally enclosed Jonathan’s house. In fact, they even put up a street light on his private property. A wise advisor would tell Jonathan to start charging this idiotic HOA rent for putting the light pole on his property.
Hmmmm.
BTW, Jonathan Friedrich is running for the Nevada State Senate. With a few political donations he might even make it.
Jonathan? What’s your address for donations? Ah! Here it is:
Jonathan Friedrich
2405 Windjammer Way
Las Vegas, NV 89107
Get this man a seat in the Nevada Senate!!!!!!
Homeowners in Nevada are about to get some wonderful news. The state’s most famous homeowners’ advocates is going to run for a position in the Nevada State Senate.
Those of you who know Jonathan Friedrich know he’s aggressive, smart, and a man without fear. You can slander him, smear him, threaten him, but like the Energizer Bunny he keeps going and going and going. He knows the corrupt Homeowners Association scam as well as anybody. He’s seen it all and can carry our message into the top layers of government in the most corrupt state in the country.
This is a man who should be supported by homeowners across the country. There’s a lot of cowardice among HOA members who think they should speak out against the system. We’re all just too afraid of the kind of retaliation that’s usually used against those who try to speak the truth.
(link to story about Nevada Senate announcement)
http://cotobuzz.blogspot.ca/2016/04/hoa-advocate-jonathan-friedrich-running.html
More and more media outlets are beginning to take notice of the national HOA Scam/Outrage. The link below is from Kiplinger and it’s worth reading.
Also (hint, hint!). There are rumors that a major newspaper in the Midwest has a killer of an HOA expose’ about to be published! This one is said to be the best of all!
(link to Kipling article on HOAs)
