Longwood HOA enacts strict anti-bear bylaws | Seminole County:
After a bear attack, an HOA responded:
"Wingfield North’s new policy states residents can be fined if they don’t use bear resistant trash cans, and if they don’t secure human food sources around their home, like grills and dog food. If residents don’t comply, they can be fined after an initial warning, up to $1,000. The policy also lays out numerous guidelines that it strongly suggests residents adhere to, but they can’t be fined if they don’t comply with those suggestions. But Kaleita says HOA’s in other communities he’s been in contact with are still hesitant to enact bylaws that allow fines for residents that don’t comply."
Thursday, June 19, 2014
State Health Department A No-Show At Yuba County Mobile Home Park With Flammable Water � CBS Sacramento
State Health Department A No-Show At Yuba County Mobile Home Park With Flammable Water � CBS Sacramento:
But the manager said the water was safe to drink!
"Water from the hose at the Castlewood Mobile Home Park doesn’t look much different from one from any old tap, but after a closer look, you’ll think twice before taking a sip.
Rhonda Little demonstrated the methane levels in her water by pouring a glass and setting it on fire."
But the manager said the water was safe to drink!
"Water from the hose at the Castlewood Mobile Home Park doesn’t look much different from one from any old tap, but after a closer look, you’ll think twice before taking a sip.
Rhonda Little demonstrated the methane levels in her water by pouring a glass and setting it on fire."
Monday, June 16, 2014
Ten women to every man, a black market in Viagra, and a 'thriving swingers scene': Welcome to The Villages, Florida, where the elderly residents down Sex on the Square cocktail in 'honor' of woman, 68, arrested for public sex with toyboy | Mail Online
Ten women to every man, a black market in Viagra, and a 'thriving swingers scene': Welcome to The Villages, Florida, where the elderly residents down Sex on the Square cocktail in 'honor' of woman, 68, arrested for public sex with toyboy | Mail Online:
The younger generation doesn't know what it's missing, apparently. It seems that retirement communities are the place to score.
"Surrounded by security gates, the self-styled Friendliest Place of Earth looks like a cross between the cult TV series 'The Prisoner' and Jim Carey’s comedy 'The Truman Show.'
There are dozens of mini estates containing row after row of identical bungalows, all with perfectly manicured lawns. Grandchildren can stay no longer than 30 days a year and there are even rules governing garden ornaments and holiday decorations.
Electronic golf carts – often with personalized number plates and flags – are the vehicle of choice because there are no corner shops or supermarkets in walking distance. Special tunnels and bridges enable cart drivers to trundle safely over busy main roads."
The younger generation doesn't know what it's missing, apparently. It seems that retirement communities are the place to score.
"Surrounded by security gates, the self-styled Friendliest Place of Earth looks like a cross between the cult TV series 'The Prisoner' and Jim Carey’s comedy 'The Truman Show.'
There are dozens of mini estates containing row after row of identical bungalows, all with perfectly manicured lawns. Grandchildren can stay no longer than 30 days a year and there are even rules governing garden ornaments and holiday decorations.
Electronic golf carts – often with personalized number plates and flags – are the vehicle of choice because there are no corner shops or supermarkets in walking distance. Special tunnels and bridges enable cart drivers to trundle safely over busy main roads."
Ten women to every man, a black market in Viagra, and a 'thriving swingers scene': Welcome to The Villages, Florida, where the elderly residents down Sex on the Square cocktail in 'honor' of woman, 68, arrested for public sex with toyboy | Mail Online
Ten women to every man, a black market in Viagra, and a 'thriving swingers scene': Welcome to The Villages, Florida, where the elderly residents down Sex on the Square cocktail in 'honor' of woman, 68, arrested for public sex with toyboy | Mail Online:
The younger generation doesn't know what it's missing, apparently. It seems that retirement communities are the place to score.
"Surrounded by security gates, the self-styled Friendliest Place of Earth looks like a cross between the cult TV series 'The Prisoner' and Jim Carey’s comedy 'The Truman Show.'
There are dozens of mini estates containing row after row of identical bungalows, all with perfectly manicured lawns. Grandchildren can stay no longer than 30 days a year and there are even rules governing garden ornaments and holiday decorations.
Electronic golf carts – often with personalized number plates and flags – are the vehicle of choice because there are no corner shops or supermarkets in walking distance. Special tunnels and bridges enable cart drivers to trundle safely over busy main roads."
The younger generation doesn't know what it's missing, apparently. It seems that retirement communities are the place to score.
"Surrounded by security gates, the self-styled Friendliest Place of Earth looks like a cross between the cult TV series 'The Prisoner' and Jim Carey’s comedy 'The Truman Show.'
There are dozens of mini estates containing row after row of identical bungalows, all with perfectly manicured lawns. Grandchildren can stay no longer than 30 days a year and there are even rules governing garden ornaments and holiday decorations.
Electronic golf carts – often with personalized number plates and flags – are the vehicle of choice because there are no corner shops or supermarkets in walking distance. Special tunnels and bridges enable cart drivers to trundle safely over busy main roads."
Thursday, June 12, 2014
IMF sounds global housing alarm - FT.com
IMF sounds global housing alarm - FT.com: "The world must act to contain the risk of another devastating housing crash, the International Monetary Fund warned on Wednesday, as it published new data showing house prices are well above their historical average in many countries."
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This is not a repost from 2007. It seems that low interest rates are contributing to what some economists think is a bubble in some countries.
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This is not a repost from 2007. It seems that low interest rates are contributing to what some economists think is a bubble in some countries.
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
MEOW NIX: Homeowners want ‘crazy cat lady’ to quit feeding strays - NY Daily News
MEOW NIX: Homeowners want ‘crazy cat lady’ to quit feeding strays - NY Daily News: Frustrated homeowners reached out to Community Board 8 and the Fresh Meadows Homeowners Civic Association seeking help to rid the area of the feral cats earlier this month. But because feeding strays is legal up until they become a “nuisance,” the city’s Health Department has yet to act.
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Tabbies and tuxedos running amok in Privatopia, New York sector. Better call the HOA!
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Tabbies and tuxedos running amok in Privatopia, New York sector. Better call the HOA!
Caught on Camera: San Marino Mayor Tosses Bag of "Dog Doo" on Neighbor's Walkway | NBC Southern California
Caught on Camera: San Marino Mayor Tosses Bag of "Dog Doo" on Neighbor's Walkway | NBC Southern California:
"Homeowner Philip Lao says that surveillance footage shows Kneier and his wife walking. In the video, Kneier’s wife is seen pointing to Lao’s walkway, and then Kneier is seen tossing the bag onto it.
Lao believes that Kneier was seeking revenge for his opposition to the mayor’s dog park proposal. Lao is against the dog park because he believes dogs are left there for hours as their owners run errands, and the dogs tend to fight when left unattended.
Lao lives a block away from Lacy Park, and as such, has "no poop zone" signs in his front lawn. According to Lao, Kneier does not like him posting signs like that, but Lao believes it is his right as a homeowner. Lao told the city council that when people take down their USC and UCLA signs, he’ll take down his "no poop zone" signs."
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Well, of course. USC and UCLA signs---"no poop zone" signs--whatever, dude. It is astonishing how petty these neighborhood disputes become, but the evidence mounts up.
"Homeowner Philip Lao says that surveillance footage shows Kneier and his wife walking. In the video, Kneier’s wife is seen pointing to Lao’s walkway, and then Kneier is seen tossing the bag onto it.
Lao believes that Kneier was seeking revenge for his opposition to the mayor’s dog park proposal. Lao is against the dog park because he believes dogs are left there for hours as their owners run errands, and the dogs tend to fight when left unattended.
Lao lives a block away from Lacy Park, and as such, has "no poop zone" signs in his front lawn. According to Lao, Kneier does not like him posting signs like that, but Lao believes it is his right as a homeowner. Lao told the city council that when people take down their USC and UCLA signs, he’ll take down his "no poop zone" signs."
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Well, of course. USC and UCLA signs---"no poop zone" signs--whatever, dude. It is astonishing how petty these neighborhood disputes become, but the evidence mounts up.
Monday, June 09, 2014
Woman, 68, And Male Partner Busted For Public Sex At Florida Retirement Community | The Smoking Gun
Woman, 68, And Male Partner Busted For Public Sex At Florida Retirement Community | The Smoking Gun
Perhaps this was just a case of misunderstanding the advertising:
The Villages, which describes itself as “Florida’s Friendliest Retirement Hometown,” has more than 50,000 residents. The community’s three old-fashioned town squares offer a variety of shopping, dining, and theater options. Additionally, free nightly entertainment--which ends at 9 PM--is offered in the squares, where the official performers are clothed.
Perhaps this was just a case of misunderstanding the advertising:
The Villages, which describes itself as “Florida’s Friendliest Retirement Hometown,” has more than 50,000 residents. The community’s three old-fashioned town squares offer a variety of shopping, dining, and theater options. Additionally, free nightly entertainment--which ends at 9 PM--is offered in the squares, where the official performers are clothed.
Anti-homeless studs at London residential block prompt uproar | Society | theguardian.com
Anti-homeless studs at London residential block prompt uproar | Society | theguardian.com
Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan would have been proud of this innovation from the private sector:
Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan would have been proud of this innovation from the private sector:
Sunday, June 08, 2014
No cartwheels at government meetings!
News from The Associated Press:
"Sixty-five-year-old Dianne Barker told KSAZ-TV this week ( HTTP://BIT.LY/UI1V4J ) that she's been banned from doing cartwheels at meetings held by the Maricopa Association of Governments.
An attorney for the association that oversees regional transportation projects said in a letter to Barker last month that she must "immediately cease performing cartwheels.""
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The jackboot of tyranny stomps on her vibe. Thanks to Fred Pilot for this link.
"Sixty-five-year-old Dianne Barker told KSAZ-TV this week ( HTTP://BIT.LY/UI1V4J ) that she's been banned from doing cartwheels at meetings held by the Maricopa Association of Governments.
An attorney for the association that oversees regional transportation projects said in a letter to Barker last month that she must "immediately cease performing cartwheels.""
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The jackboot of tyranny stomps on her vibe. Thanks to Fred Pilot for this link.
Thursday, June 05, 2014
Father-of-seven paints home with stars and stripes after officials tried to force him to make minor alterations to his home | Mail Online
Father-of-seven paints home with stars and stripes after officials tried to force him to make minor alterations to his home | Mail Online
Proving that this doesn't only happen in HOAs: "Brent Greer, 43, was angry when a code enforcement officer visited his home in Bradenton, Florida after someone complained that he had left an old Christmas tree on a balcony - and slapped him with even more complaints. Among the gripes were missing window screens, peeling paint and the need for pressure washing, the Bradenton Herald reported."
Proving that this doesn't only happen in HOAs: "Brent Greer, 43, was angry when a code enforcement officer visited his home in Bradenton, Florida after someone complained that he had left an old Christmas tree on a balcony - and slapped him with even more complaints. Among the gripes were missing window screens, peeling paint and the need for pressure washing, the Bradenton Herald reported."
VIDEO: To Prison For Poverty | MyFDL
VIDEO: To Prison For Poverty | MyFDL
Sometimes I hear from HOA residents that they feel like they are in prison. But there are some people who actually have been incarcerated because of privatization. Private probation companies are getting people locked up for not paying--a modern reincarnation of debtor's prison. And there's a video that tells their story, with a writeup by one of the directors at the link:
"If someone gets a traffic ticket and can’t pay, the judge puts them on “probation,” which really means walking down the hall and signing up for a payment plan with a private probation company who has a contract with the court. If they can’t pay, they go to jail. (Which is somehow supposed to make paying the ticket easier for someone who can’t afford it in the first place.) Like payday lenders, these for-profit companies seek out neighborhoods where they know the population will, on average, have a tougher time paying traffic tickets out right. Then they charge exorbitant fees. Hali Wood was hit with a $41 seat belt ticket. Her payment plan charged a monthly fee of $35. That’s 85% interest! This is unlike any other probation programs we’ve run across in almost two years of producing documentaries about the criminal justice system. Probation is supposed to help people avoid jail or prison. These companies are simply collections agencies on steroids."
Sometimes I hear from HOA residents that they feel like they are in prison. But there are some people who actually have been incarcerated because of privatization. Private probation companies are getting people locked up for not paying--a modern reincarnation of debtor's prison. And there's a video that tells their story, with a writeup by one of the directors at the link:
"If someone gets a traffic ticket and can’t pay, the judge puts them on “probation,” which really means walking down the hall and signing up for a payment plan with a private probation company who has a contract with the court. If they can’t pay, they go to jail. (Which is somehow supposed to make paying the ticket easier for someone who can’t afford it in the first place.) Like payday lenders, these for-profit companies seek out neighborhoods where they know the population will, on average, have a tougher time paying traffic tickets out right. Then they charge exorbitant fees. Hali Wood was hit with a $41 seat belt ticket. Her payment plan charged a monthly fee of $35. That’s 85% interest! This is unlike any other probation programs we’ve run across in almost two years of producing documentaries about the criminal justice system. Probation is supposed to help people avoid jail or prison. These companies are simply collections agencies on steroids."
Wednesday, June 04, 2014
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy: "Land and the City"
I just returned from a conference at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy in Cambridge, MA. The topic: "Land and the City." It was an outstanding conference in every way. The link goes to a summary of the papers. Mine was on the relationship between CID housing and the increase in segregation by income that we have experienced in this country.
Friday, May 30, 2014
Plano HOA: Letters asking for greener lawns 'mistake' in face of water restrictions | wfaa.com Dallas - Fort Worth
Plano HOA: Letters asking for greener lawns 'mistake' in face of water restrictions | wfaa.com Dallas - Fort Worth: PLANO -- It is a delicate balance that some North Texas homeowners are having to strike: to follow water-restrictions while keeping the lawn green.
Residents in one Plano neighborhood raised concerns after they received letters from their Home Owners Association asking them to comply with certain “aesthetic” rules. When News 8 pressed the issue with the HOA, SBB Management, we were told the letters that were sent out were a mistake.
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An HOA evergreen story that repeats year after year; only the HOA involved changes.
Residents in one Plano neighborhood raised concerns after they received letters from their Home Owners Association asking them to comply with certain “aesthetic” rules. When News 8 pressed the issue with the HOA, SBB Management, we were told the letters that were sent out were a mistake.
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An HOA evergreen story that repeats year after year; only the HOA involved changes.
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Riverside Woman Sues Over Her Arrest For Clapping � CBS Sacramento
Riverside Woman Sues Over Her Arrest For Clapping � CBS Sacramento:
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) — A woman who was arrested after she repeatedly clapped at a Riverside City Council meeting has filed a federal lawsuit.
The Riverside Press-Enterprise reports that Letitia Pepper argues her constitutional rights were violated.
Pepper, a longtime critic of Riverside government, was taken away in handcuffs last June. Authorities say she disrupted the meeting by repeatedly applauding speakers even after being warned by the mayor.
However, she was never criminally charged.
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Interesting legal issue that would pertain to CIDs if their meetings were held to the same standard as those of local governments. This could be seen as an example of "symbolic speech," as we call it in the field of constitutional law, which is protected by the First Amendment. Here's the video of Pepper being hauled out of the meeting room. She has had some choice words for the government of Riverside. Also--a person by the same name happens to be an attorney who was recently cited for misconduct by refusing to leave a courtroom after being ordered to do so by a judge. Then there's this. She appears also to be involved with the public debate over marijuana. I would say we can safely conclude that she is a person who fights hard for what she believes to be right, even to the point of challenging people in positions of authority. This federal case involving the clapping will be worth following.
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) — A woman who was arrested after she repeatedly clapped at a Riverside City Council meeting has filed a federal lawsuit.
The Riverside Press-Enterprise reports that Letitia Pepper argues her constitutional rights were violated.
Pepper, a longtime critic of Riverside government, was taken away in handcuffs last June. Authorities say she disrupted the meeting by repeatedly applauding speakers even after being warned by the mayor.
However, she was never criminally charged.
---------------------
Interesting legal issue that would pertain to CIDs if their meetings were held to the same standard as those of local governments. This could be seen as an example of "symbolic speech," as we call it in the field of constitutional law, which is protected by the First Amendment. Here's the video of Pepper being hauled out of the meeting room. She has had some choice words for the government of Riverside. Also--a person by the same name happens to be an attorney who was recently cited for misconduct by refusing to leave a courtroom after being ordered to do so by a judge. Then there's this. She appears also to be involved with the public debate over marijuana. I would say we can safely conclude that she is a person who fights hard for what she believes to be right, even to the point of challenging people in positions of authority. This federal case involving the clapping will be worth following.
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Leaky condo crisis rears its head again in B.C.
Leaky condo crisis rears its head again in B.C.: Evidence of a second wave in British Columbia’s leaky-condo crisis is beginning to emerge, 15 years after the first one subsided.
It is becoming more apparent as condo strata corporations prepare mandated depreciation reports on their buildings. That process is forcing them to own up to the condition of their properties and the shortcomings of maintenance programs for structures that weren’t fixed in the first wave of repairs.
Some are buildings that haven’t started leaking until recently, or that owners patched over instead of repairing their underlying defects.
There are still potentially thousands of faulty units that were built during the so-called “leaky-condo” period — from 1982-99 — which were never repaired, but figures on how many have been fixed are difficult to come by.
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The quest for a waterproof condo continues in the rainy lands north of the border. This story like its counterpart in the U.S. has been playing out for decades, drip by drip, drop by drop.
It is becoming more apparent as condo strata corporations prepare mandated depreciation reports on their buildings. That process is forcing them to own up to the condition of their properties and the shortcomings of maintenance programs for structures that weren’t fixed in the first wave of repairs.
Some are buildings that haven’t started leaking until recently, or that owners patched over instead of repairing their underlying defects.
There are still potentially thousands of faulty units that were built during the so-called “leaky-condo” period — from 1982-99 — which were never repaired, but figures on how many have been fixed are difficult to come by.
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The quest for a waterproof condo continues in the rainy lands north of the border. This story like its counterpart in the U.S. has been playing out for decades, drip by drip, drop by drop.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Chuck Yeager, wife, must pay $43,150 in homeowner association dispute - Our Region - The Sacramento Bee
Chuck Yeager, wife, must pay $43,150 in homeowner association dispute - Our Region - The Sacramento Bee: A Sacramento judge has ordered retired Air Force Brigadier General Chuck Yeager and his wife to pay a homeowners association $43,150 in fees.
Superior Court Judge Judy H. Hersher issued her final decision on Monday after a court trial earlier this year in a lawsuit filed by the Park River Oak Estates Homeowners Association against the renowned test pilot.
The suit that was filed in 2008 charged that Yeager, 91, and his wife, Victoria, 55, hadn’t paid their association fees on two units they own in a townhouse complex near Garcia Bend Park.
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The general may have had the right stuff to safety navigate the early hazards of flying faster than sound. But like death and taxes, HOA assessments can't be avoided.
Superior Court Judge Judy H. Hersher issued her final decision on Monday after a court trial earlier this year in a lawsuit filed by the Park River Oak Estates Homeowners Association against the renowned test pilot.
The suit that was filed in 2008 charged that Yeager, 91, and his wife, Victoria, 55, hadn’t paid their association fees on two units they own in a townhouse complex near Garcia Bend Park.
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The general may have had the right stuff to safety navigate the early hazards of flying faster than sound. But like death and taxes, HOA assessments can't be avoided.
Thursday, May 08, 2014
Lexington neighbors fight for right to help with one another's chores
http://tdn.com/news/local/lexington-neighbors-fight-for-right-to-help-with-one-another/article_4f703382-d57f-11e3-a9ba-001a4bcf887a.html
"Friendly neighbors at Lexington’s Tim Wa Estates scored a victory Tuesday afternoon after battling for months with local property managers. Kalama-based interim property managers of the mobile home park were demanding that a neighborhood volunteer group, Helping Hands, stop offering their free services to elderly and ailing neighbors. They claimed the group violated the park’s “no solicitation” rules. The rules left residents fearing even going next door to borrow a cup of sugar, let alone lending a hand on a neighbor’s yard work. They said they tried to resolve the dispute for months with no response. But late Tuesday, Amber Monte, president of California-based holding firm Investment Property Group, which owns Tim Wa and oversees the Kalama managers, said those managers are gone from the park. “We’ve removed the employees involved from any further involvement with the property,” Monte said in an email. “We’ve contacted Helping Hands directly to relay our complete support for their charitable services and good deeds.”
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I guess all's well that ends well, but it started as yet another example of property managers mindlessly ordering people around in some absurd effort to enforce rules for no good reason and in defiance of common sense.
"Friendly neighbors at Lexington’s Tim Wa Estates scored a victory Tuesday afternoon after battling for months with local property managers. Kalama-based interim property managers of the mobile home park were demanding that a neighborhood volunteer group, Helping Hands, stop offering their free services to elderly and ailing neighbors. They claimed the group violated the park’s “no solicitation” rules. The rules left residents fearing even going next door to borrow a cup of sugar, let alone lending a hand on a neighbor’s yard work. They said they tried to resolve the dispute for months with no response. But late Tuesday, Amber Monte, president of California-based holding firm Investment Property Group, which owns Tim Wa and oversees the Kalama managers, said those managers are gone from the park. “We’ve removed the employees involved from any further involvement with the property,” Monte said in an email. “We’ve contacted Helping Hands directly to relay our complete support for their charitable services and good deeds.”
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I guess all's well that ends well, but it started as yet another example of property managers mindlessly ordering people around in some absurd effort to enforce rules for no good reason and in defiance of common sense.
Tuesday, May 06, 2014
Broomfield HOA Facing Controversy Over Plan To Kill Rabbits � CBS Denver
Broomfield HOA Facing Controversy Over Plan To Kill Rabbits � CBS Denver
“So they’re going to trap the rabbits in 60 cages and as we walk around our neighborhood we’re going to see these animals trapped awaiting their execution,” said Tasker.
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I don't believe I have ever heard the word "execution" applied to a rabbit. Why not have a community-building barbecue featuring something that tastes like chicken?
“So they’re going to trap the rabbits in 60 cages and as we walk around our neighborhood we’re going to see these animals trapped awaiting their execution,” said Tasker.
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I don't believe I have ever heard the word "execution" applied to a rabbit. Why not have a community-building barbecue featuring something that tastes like chicken?
Home buyers want new, but don't want to pay for it
In March, the median sale price for an existing home was $198,500, according to the National Association of Realtors. The median price for a newly built home was $290,000. While some of that premium can be attributed to the fact that builders are now focusing more on higher-end buyers, and therefore building more luxury homes, there is in general at least a 20 percent premium for new construction...Unfortunately for the builders, just 46 percent of the people who strongly prefer a new home are willing to pay the 20 percent premium that new homes typically cost. And even fewer of those who said they somewhat prefer a newly built home would pay the higher price. In total, just 17 percent of those who said they prefer new would actually pay for new.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/home-buyers-want-wont-pay-131356086.html
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Thanks to Fred Pilot for this link. Builders are catering increasingly to the affluent. The 1995-2006 housing boom was in part fueled by efforts to expand homeownership down the income distribution. That's all over now. The home ownership rate is falling, more people are renting, and the new housing market is for the wealthy. The rest of us can accept trickle down housing, as Anthony Downs described back in 1975
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/home-buyers-want-wont-pay-131356086.html
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Thanks to Fred Pilot for this link. Builders are catering increasingly to the affluent. The 1995-2006 housing boom was in part fueled by efforts to expand homeownership down the income distribution. That's all over now. The home ownership rate is falling, more people are renting, and the new housing market is for the wealthy. The rest of us can accept trickle down housing, as Anthony Downs described back in 1975
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