Unsigned Postcards Ask Homeowners To Take Down Campaign Signs « CBS Pittsburgh

Unsigned Postcards Ask Homeowners To Take Down Campaign Signs « CBS Pittsburgh: "PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Some homeowners in the quiet Murdoch Farms section of Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood are angry after getting postcards in the mail asking them to take down campaign signs in their yards.

The cards say in part, “If you feel strongly about your candidates, then talk to your neighbors, use other channels, like the Internet, and consider taking down the signs that are distracting from our beautiful neighborhood.”"

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While I understand the importance of political expression, I do understand why people get frustrated when they are everywhere. I have a neighbor who is a political activist. His yard is festooned with signs for every candidate for his party from president to dogcatcher. He goes door-to-door and pesters people to put up signs, too. This happens in every election cycle. The neighborhood is normally beautiful in the fall, with all the leaves changing, but instead we have garish signs everywhere.

But polite requests are just about the only way to address this issue. The Supreme Court ruled in the Ledou v. Gilleo case that political yard signs are protected by the First Amendment and cannot be banned by local ordinance, although they can be regulated. Many HOAs and condo associations have strict rules that go beyond what a municipality could do, which I guess responds to concerns like those voiced in this article.

HOA Horrors: Few checks and balances puts residents at whim of boards, covenants | 11alive.com

HOA Horrors: Few checks and balances puts residents at whim of boards, covenants | 11alive.com: "For years, 11Alive received a steady stream of tips from viewers, frustrated by the action of their HOA board. When our 11Alive Investigator Rebecca Lindstrom started digging, she found cases of favoritism, bullying, embezzlement – and very few checks and balances to make sure decisions came coupled with common sense.

More than two million people live in a neighborhood with an HOA and the numbers, with every new construction project around metro Atlanta, are growing. "

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I must have read about 500 of these breathless "crack investigative reporter discovers problems with HOAs" stories. You'd think they just found Bigfoot.

Videos show events before B.C. RCMP arrest of elderly couple | CTV News

Videos show events before B.C. RCMP arrest of elderly couple | CTV News: "The RCMP officers called to the scene of a raucous condo meeting in Coquitlam, B.C. are under investigation for their actions in the arrest of an elderly couple. The contents of a jarring cellphone video showing the elderly man dragged down a flight of stairs prompted not only an internal RCMP investigation, but also external investigations by an outside police force and a civilian review board. But new footage has emerged showing pieces of the scene leading up to the arrest.
The annual general meeting was held on Oct. 27, held at a Best Western in the Vancouver suburb, heated up over, what appears to be, the results an election."

HOA management company owner: Don’t confuse compliance with punishment - VEGAS INC

HOA management company owner: Don’t confuse compliance with punishment - VEGAS INC:



Ah, I see. Thanks for clarifying that distinction. But isn't a fine a punishment that is used to get compliance?

Grand Island Homeowners Association to file lawsuit against Lee Commission | Local News | albanyherald.com

Grand Island Homeowners Association to file lawsuit against Lee Commission | Local News | albanyherald.com: "LEESBURG — Plans to move forward with the proposed construction of a new 50-bed private hospital at the Grand Island Golf Course property in southern Lee County could take a hit this week once the Grand Island Subdivision Homeowners Association files a planned lawsuit against the Lee County Board of Commissioners.

Homeowners Association president and local obstetrician Dr. John G. Ricketson confirmed Monday that the property-owner group is planning to file a lawsuit some time this week alleging that the construction of the $50 million hospital would violate an easement set up by Grand Island developer John Gay in 1995.

According to Ricketson, a perpetual easement was granted by the developer to the property owners stating that “no natural or artificial barriers blocking the view or sight from the adjacent properties shall be constructed or created on the golf course property without the written permission of all the property owners.”

“(The easement) says perpetuity, which means forever; it will provide for the preservation and enhancement of the adjacent properties,” said Ricketson. “We feel that’s any obstacle and that includes a three-story hospital.”"

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It would be quite a task, but I would love to know what percentage of HOA litigation is NIMBY lawsuits like this.