Category Archives: privacy

Finally, An Organization I Can Believe In!

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I’ve never been a big fan of the ACLU. Oh, I’ve interviewed ACLU officials a number of times in my career. They’re rarely the ones who say, “No comment!” And some of their battles I’ve certainly supported. Sadly, there are too many cases which I firmly believe that the ACLU won’t touch.

It’s a completely different story where the Institute for Justice (IJ.org) is concerned. They, too, are a civil rights organization but they seem to be more focused on housing, minority rights, and seeking out the kinds of justice that would help all of us, not just small minority interests.

Guest blogger Deborah Goonan sends this link to us:

http://ij.org/wa-lawyer-free-speech-release-2-20-15

Institute for Justice has a number of other great videos at:

IJ.org

You could and should spend an entire afternoon watching their videos and studying their interests. And then, as I’m doing now, write them a check. They’re doing some excellent work.

Another Crude One from Comcast

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Being a customer of Comcast is mandated in Homeowners Associations across America. HOA boards and managers make backroom deals to allow only one company to service customers. Setting up a monopoly with utiltities supposedly saves money for homeowners. But money isn’t as big a problem as the quality of service.

Obviously, not all customers are satisfied with Comcast customer service. But for the second time in two weeks we hear of the ‘special’ way some customers are treated by the company’s billing department.

(link to story on mary super-b1tch bauer)

 

Movies About Homeowners Associations

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I know of at least four HOA movies in various stages of production. Movies are extraordinarily expensive to do, and to do right. One of the older ones that appears to have stalled had a wonderfully clever trailer….worth watching.

If anyone has an update on this production, please let me know.

 

Update: Osceola delegation denies HOA residents’ third request to make Poinciana a city

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guest blog by Deborah Goonan

A few months ago I blogged about a very large Florida HOA with over 45,000 residents, and the fact that a homeowner’s group (PINCHOS) has been trying for three years to incorporate as a city. In all, Poinciana has nearly 60,000 residents. Under the latest proposal, roughly 47,000 live within boundaries that were to create a new municipality.

News reports indicate that Osceola County Legislative Delegation vote was split 2-2, along party lines on the matter, with two representatives not present at the time the vote was taken. A Department of Revenue report, based on a feasibility study, has concluded that Poinciana meets the financial requirements of a city, and stands to take in millions in revenue if it incorporates as a municipality.

At the hearing conducted last month, the delegation reportedly heard from residents both in favor of the proposal and opposed. Those opposed fear that becoming a city would lead to a tax increase, despite a feasibility study’s conclusion to the contrary.  Debate on the finer points has been put on hold for yet another year.

One of the reasons PINCHOS is in favor of municipal incorporation: typical of large HOAs, Poinciana is divided into 9 Villages, and the President of each Village Board serves on the Master HOA. Property owners elect the Master Board, but many of those owners are not actually residents of Poinciana. Meanwhile tenants have no voting rights to elect their leaders. That’s equivalent to taxation without representation! Predictably, the HOA Developer and the Board spoke against Poinciana becoming a city at the Delegation meeting.

According to another recent television news report, Poinciana has been struggling with crime and vandalism. Because they don’t have City status, they cannot have their own police department. Therefore the HOA has decided to spend $100,000 on increasing security staff and adding security cameras.

Keith Laytham, spokesperson for the owners’ group in favor of municipal incorporation says his group will continue to work with State Rep. John Cortes to put Poinciana on the map as a city in its own right.

(Bay News 9 article on controversy) 

(Orlando Sentinel article on Poinciana)

(Letter to Ledger.com from a Keith Laytham)

(WFTV video, Poinciana HOA to spend $100,000 on increased security)

(Previous blog about Poinciana, and why many residents want to create their own city)

Net ‘Neutrality’ and this Website!

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Well, the news this week is pretty bad for net neutrality. The White House has come up with a 332 page book of regulations that it’s going to hand to the FCC for implementation. Just as in the Affordable Care Act, they have to pass the bill so we can all see what’s in it. A lone renegade on the FCC is warning that this bill is so heavy handed that it will fundamentally change the way the Internet is governed, essentially treating it as a public utility.

Hundreds of billions in new taxes, controversial websites (like this one) may be subjected to a version of the old (and failed) Fairness Doctrine, and smaller businesses and smaller political operatives will essentially be driven off the web. Websites will be censored. Another name for the bill is “full employment for trial lawyers.”

The Internet has given us a measure of freedom that never would have been granted by traditional government. It has fundamentally changed the world, both socially and financially.

FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai says the future looks pretty grim.

http://dailycaller.com/2015/02/10/fcc-commissioner-unprecedented-involvement-of-executive-branch-in-our-decision-making/