I read about this a while ago. If Florida homeowner's associations are not legendary, they should be. People have had their homes taken from them for leaving a garbage can in the wrong place.
Years ago I wrote about an association that took a homeowner to court and tried to evict him because he had a TV antenna. Federal law says no association can forbid you to have one. "we don't like the Federal law, said the attorney for the community."
And then there was the guy who wanted an American flag. The association said no, the State legislature said yes, the governor said yes, came to his house and posed for a picture of them both holding a copy of the law allowing him to have it. They kept him in court anyway until he went bankrupt and lost the house.
My own homeowners association has no mention in the bylaws that require them to conform to any law at all and forbid any resident to sue them under any circumstances if they do, although they've been reasonable so far.
I could go on all day, but it's a fine example of what happens when you give people authority. Too often they become monsters.
The video of that smug penis with his hat on backwards (because he's so "hep") and washing his hands of any responsibility, makes my skin crawl and my trigger finger itch.
Just enforcing the rules! Sounds like a quote from the Nuremburg trials.
Now, I'm not in any position to do such a thing, but here's a suggestion.
Someone like me, who's over 55 years of age and is, actually, semi-hip, could buy the house and then proceed to have lots of company and party till the cows come home (while staying just within the limits of the agreement) AND spend their daytime hours driving around the community to observe and report every single nitpicking violation of the HA's code. That could be a fun project for some gadfly that has money and time on his hands.
Oh, I almost forgot, the backwards hat guy? Total asshole.
I'm sure this is a common problem, seems like I've heard of similar situations. This is one reason why I hope I never have to live in a "retirement community" or any place with a fascist "Homeowner's Assn."
The potential for fascism in homeowners associations is always there. I'm fortunate in that mine has moved away from that, It's not a retirement community anyway, but the kind of people who want to head these things is, too often a closet fascist.
Sounds like a fun idea - I'm way over 55 myself, but I'm sure some of these agreements forbid parties or parking on the street after dark or playing anything other than Lawrence Welk records - there's always something, but you have to ask yourself what kind of person is so offended by the presence of one little girl, what kind of person is terrified of divine retribution for allowing someone else to bend a rule that's only an agreement to keep the neighborhood quiet and orderly and not troubled at all by the pain and suffering they are causing -- and can wash their hands of it like Pontius Pilate and say they're not responsible?
I don't have a name for that kind of person, but they seem to gravitate to Florida (and vote Republican.)
All involved in trying to toss the girl out ought to be ashamed. They should pray that their own preciously perfect lives never fall upon hard times themselves.
Remember the wonderfully satirical treatment such communities got on Seinfeld?
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sick MF'ers!!! Those people MUST NOT let the state put that little girl in foster care, it breaks my heart!
ReplyDeleteI read about this a while ago. If Florida homeowner's associations are not legendary, they should be. People have had their homes taken from them for leaving a garbage can in the wrong place.
ReplyDeleteYears ago I wrote about an association that took a homeowner to court and tried to evict him because he had a TV antenna. Federal law says no association can forbid you to have one. "we don't like the Federal law, said the attorney for the community."
And then there was the guy who wanted an American flag. The association said no, the State legislature said yes, the governor said yes, came to his house and posed for a picture of them both holding a copy of the law allowing him to have it. They kept him in court anyway until he went bankrupt and lost the house.
My own homeowners association has no mention in the bylaws that require them to conform to any law at all and forbid any resident to sue them under any circumstances if they do, although they've been reasonable so far.
I could go on all day, but it's a fine example of what happens when you give people authority. Too often they become monsters.
The video of that smug penis with his hat on backwards (because he's so "hep") and washing his hands of any responsibility, makes my skin crawl and my trigger finger itch.
Just enforcing the rules! Sounds like a quote from the Nuremburg trials.
Now, I'm not in any position to do such a thing, but here's a suggestion.
ReplyDeleteSomeone like me, who's over 55 years of age and is, actually, semi-hip, could buy the house and then proceed to have lots of company and party till the cows come home (while staying just within the limits of the agreement) AND spend their daytime hours driving around the community to observe and report every single nitpicking violation of the HA's code. That could be a fun project for some gadfly that has money and time on his hands.
Oh, I almost forgot, the backwards hat guy? Total asshole.
I'm sure this is a common problem, seems like I've heard of similar situations. This is one reason why I hope I never have to live in a "retirement community" or any place with a fascist "Homeowner's Assn."
ReplyDeleteThe potential for fascism in homeowners associations is always there. I'm fortunate in that mine has moved away from that, It's not a retirement community anyway, but the kind of people who want to head these things is, too often a closet fascist.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fun idea - I'm way over 55 myself, but I'm sure some of these agreements forbid parties or parking on the street after dark or playing anything other than Lawrence Welk records - there's always something, but you have to ask yourself what kind of person is so offended by the presence of one little girl, what kind of person is terrified of divine retribution for allowing someone else to bend a rule that's only an agreement to keep the neighborhood quiet and orderly and not troubled at all by the pain and suffering they are causing -- and can wash their hands of it like Pontius Pilate and say they're not responsible?
I don't have a name for that kind of person, but they seem to gravitate to Florida (and vote Republican.)
All involved in trying to toss the girl out ought to be ashamed. They should pray that their own preciously perfect lives never fall upon hard times themselves.
ReplyDeleteRemember the wonderfully satirical treatment such communities got on Seinfeld?
This is insane. I hope the grandparents are able to sell the house and move out ASAP from that hell of a "community."
ReplyDelete