Category Archives: privacy

Stupid, Stupid Florida

You’ve heard about the new law in Florida, haven’t you? The one that now gives “emergency powers” to all Homeowners Associations, condo associations and property owners associations?

Yep, all HOA boards will now have “emergency powers” to raise dues, make contracts and borrow money without even all board members being present, without even allowing homeowners to have a say.

All I can really do is shake my head in disgust and ask my readers to consider five of the most significant dates in world history:

January 30, 1933.

February 27th, 1933.

February 28th, 1933.

March, 5, 1933.

March 23, 1933.

Every school kid should have those dates locked in their hearts and committed to memory for life. I seriously doubt if a kid….or a parent, anywhere, has any idea of the significance:

January 30th, Adolph Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany.

February 27th, an arsonist sets fire to the Reichstag Building.

February 28th, blaming “an emergency” thousands of people, including all legislators not friendly to the Nazi cause, are arrested and imprisoned.

March 5th, new elections put the Nazi party in control of Germany.

March 23rd, the Enabling Act takes effect, which essentially makes Adolph Hitler the absolute dictator over Germany.

Jan Bergemann, one of the biggest homeowners rights advocates in the nation, is one of the few Americans who knows all about those five dates. After all he was originally from Germany and he knows what happens when dictators are given unrestrained power. He now lives in Florida where he’s been the state’s top crusader against abuses and crimes committed by the boards of rogue Homeowners Associations.

Bergemman says the new Florida “emergency powers” law is dangerous.

That could well be the understatement of the year.

(link to Orlando Sentinel story)

A Rare Retreat By An HOA

An HOA apologize to someone it’s wronged? When pigs fly!

But that’s exactly what happened when the Fieldstone Homeowners Association ticketed an 81 year old Navy veteran for using the American flag as an “inappropriate curtain.”

When the Post Falls American Legion announced it would support the vet’s right to display the flag from inside his home, the HOA board quickly crawled back down its hole, saying it would rescind the violation and even apologize to the veteran.

Yes, some pigs can fly. Not often. But it’s a beautiful sight to see.

(link to Coeur d’Alene Press)

 

HOA Ballot Tampering In Pennsylvania

Ah, the peaceful Poconos. As I recall, the old ads used to call it, “A place for lovers.” The ad executives could easily begin calling it, “A place for liars.” But who would guess the amount of rank corruption that gives a special kind of identity to that part of the country?

On the HOA front, two board members of the Wild Acres Community Association are currently charged with ballot tampering, forgery and a number of other crimes.

State Police were listening when the board members discussed mishandling 200 ballots to make sure the ‘correct’ board members were elected.

Yes, we can point to the Poconos and Monroe County, PA as hotbeds of corruption. Sadly, this kind of thing goes on everywhere. This coming October a roomful of prominent lawyers and businessmen will go on trial in Nevada for rigging board elections in a number of Homeowners Associations, and then stealing them blind. If you look closely, you’ll see this kind of corruption in every state that allows Homeowners Associations to exist. By my count that’s about 50, although a past Presidential candidate said there were 57.

In any event, when board members and board members’ wives are the only ones allowed to count the ballots in unaudited elections why wouldn’t you think the entire HOA system is profoundly corrupt?

In at least two states, federal and state police agencies are discovering that the homeowners really aren’t just crying “Wolf!”

(link to ballot tampering in Pocono Record)

 

Avoid HOAs…Live In A Cave!

guest blog by Nila Ridings
This could be a once in a lifetime chance to never have to worry about the headaches of HOA living again!
 
17,000 square feet of natural climate control keeps it 70 degrees all year.  The latest addition of a “man cave!”  Oh yes, literally a cave of comfort away from nosy neighbors and the spying eyes of an HOA board.  
 
Definitely, one-of-a-kind!
 

(Link to KMBC story of man cave)

 

Hang On To Your Flag For This One!

I have sworn not to do more HOA flag stories because there are just too many of them. Tonight, I once again break that vow just because the latest flag nonsense is just so far beyond belief.

A tenant, a paying renter, is being told by his property manager to take down his American flag or they won’t renew his apartment lease. That’s no dog-bites-man news story. It’s way more bizarre than that.

Steve Roberts, who lives at The Oaks in Santee California is displaying his American flag INSIDE his home! The only way anyone can see it is if he opens the blinds inside his house.

How far will the lawn Nazis go to screw up the life of an individual resident? Apparently, there really aren’t any limits.  How much money in legal bills will they run up to demonstrate their disgusting lust for power? Again, no limits.

Folks, I usually don’t encourage you to send out stories to everyone you know, but on this one I am! From our top leaders to people trying to storm our country’s borders, the hate for the American flag is palpable.

(Link to KGTV in Santee)