Category Archives: Patriotism
Another On-duty Serviceman gets the HOA Shaft!
Until HOAs get massive financial fines for screwing over on-duty service members, this kind of crime will never stop. The federal law is incredibly clear…you can’t foreclose on a member of the U.S. Armed Services if he is on active duty and cannot appear in court.
Yet the Monte Viejo Community Association in San Antonio, Texas felt they were above the law. In 2011, they simply reached out and snatched the home of U.S. Navy Petty Officer Richard Miller. He was stationed in Japan at the time. In a case eerily similar to the confiscation of another Texas serviceman’s home, Miller’s wife kept all of his mail for him to read when he was home for the holidays. Miller says he never got any mail from his HOA, and thus didn’t know his dues were not being paid.
Miller’s dues were only 200 bucks a year. The HOA jacked that up to more than $15,000 and then liened and foreclosed on Miller’s home.
The good news is that Miller has a pro-bono attorney who’s fighting for his rights. There’s a hint that the Monte Viego board knows how badly they messed up because they’re finally communicating with Miller.
(link to Stars and Stripes article on Miller’s fight)
Welcome to Paradise…for Criminals!
guest blog by Deborah Goonan
Would you be comfortable living in a condo where the Manager, arrested for theft and forgery, remains employed and in charge of your condo association’s $1.2 million budget? What would you think if you discovered your Association’s payroll includes at least two other unlicensed professional staff members that have been convicted of crimes, including stealing $400,000 from another condominium association?
Would you be spooked if you returned home one day to discover your new stainless steel kitchen appliances have mysteriously disappeared, and, in their place, someone installed old beat-up appliances?
Residents at Kennedy House condominium in North Bay Village (FL) are dealing with this nightmare. They tell Channel 10’s Bob Norman that even the local police chief has been unhelpful. North Bay Village Manager has recently fired that police chief and now promises to see to it that there is a full investigation of reported crimes.
Kennedy House is a renovated 1950s-era building in North Bay Village, a man-made island in the Biscayne Bay near Miami, featuring 1 and 2 bedroom units with sweeping water views. It’s the kind of Paradise northerners dream about, especially after a brutal winter like this season.
A search of recent listings reveals that Kennedy house condos are priced “affordably” under $250,000. Unit owners currently pay $400-$600 per month in Association fees.
Ouch. And just how much of that was squandered or stolen? That is yet to be fully investigated.
It seems both Florida and Nevada definitely rise to the top of the list for corruption in HOA Land. Folks, these reports are published daily. It’s getting to the point where it’s hard to choose which one(s) to blog about.
(link to TV news story uncovering corruption)
(accused felons: they’re back on the job!)
Damn the American Flag!
Yes, that’s what many Homeowners Association boards in America are saying. And they’re suing to get rid of any trace of the Red, White and Blue.
You really have to watch this four minute speech by Texas Congressman Ted Poe!
The Problem With Private Police
Last year I ranted and railed about the Illinois Supreme Court allowing Homeowners Associations to hire untrained security guards who are allowed to make traffic ‘arrests.’ It was an idiotic decision because it put no limits on the police powers given to these ‘wanna-be’ cops. Anyone who’s covered news events for as many decades as I have knows that untrained guards cause many problems, not the least of which is unlimited liability to their employers.
Legitimate police officers are in constant training, their skills are always being honed, they’re repeatedly learning new law enforcement techniques, going to legal seminars and qualifying at the shooting range. Under the Illinois decision any 18 year old punk could put on a uniform, badge and gun, and even brandish an AK-47 if he so wished. There are no rules!
Now we read that it’s common practice in Homeowners Associations in Virginia. Fake cops there can even ‘invent’ fake police departments. After a number of incidents involving private cops, the Virginia Legislature is trying to give them some mandatory training.
But imagine the liability to the individual homeowner! A sex assault, a car accident during a chase, an accidental discharge of a weapon and a multi-million dollar lawsuit could be filed against the HOA that hired the fake cop. All those homeowners could be hit with special assessments to cover legal fees and liability judgments.
Very scary.
(link to Washington Post story on Virginia’s private cops)
