Water Privatization: Coming to a Century Old System Near You?

Water Privatization: Coming to a Century Old System Near You?

From law professor Ellen Dannin--the privatization industry has plenty of clout in Washington these days.  We have crumbling infrastructure, governments that are unable either to raise taxes or issue bonds, and vast oceans of private capital.  

"The good news is that our more than a century old, dangerously deteriorating water and wastewater systems are about to get long overdue attention. Not only did Congress give the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 (WRRDA) a landslide vote - House (412-4) and Senate (91-7) - but on June 10, President Obama signed on. WRRDA is bringing joy to the financial industry, construction unions, environmentalists, legislators, the transportation industry and almost anyone or thing connected with water. The only thing that seems to be missing is holding hands and singing "Kumbaya." But, while WRRDA has many long-needed features, the reality is that some parts of the law are seriously problematic."

Sluggish Housing Market A Product Of Millions Of 'Missing Households' : NPR

Sluggish Housing Market A Product Of Millions Of 'Missing Households' : NPR:

"A year ago, the housing market looked like it was finally recovering. Sales and prices were picking up. But then home sales fizzled. Currently, they are down about 7 percent from last spring. A big part of why housing remains so stunted is that there are more than 2 million "missing households" in the U.S. That's how economists describe the fact that fewer people are striking out on their own to find places to live. Instead of renting an apartment or buying a home, a large number of Americans in their 20s and early 30s are living with family or tripling up with roommates. That's because younger Americans are having an especially tough time since the recession."



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Young adults have been abandoned by our policy makers and left to the tender mercies of the worst economy since the 1930s.  The difference is that in the 1930s the federal government did everything possible to help working people, but this time around the feds are only concerned about health of big banks and insurance companies, oil companies, big box retailers and other practitioners of grifter capitalism.  It is a decision that will reverberate through our economy for the next fifty years.

Condo owners in showdown with HOA over plans for $15K charge for repairs | KDVR.com

Condo owners in showdown with HOA over plans for $15K charge for repairs | KDVR.com:

The condo death spiral strikes again.  I expect stories like this to become more common every year, as condo buildings (and HOA common elements) wear out and residents discover that (a) they don't have the money in reserves to repair/replace; (b) there is no insurance coverage for wear and tear; (c) they can't get a loan, or it would be prohibitively expensive; and (d) local government or a judge forces them to pay for the repair.



"NORTHGLENN, Colo. — An emergency community meeting in Northglenn Tuesday night pits condo owners against their homeowner’s association (HOA) in Westminster.

Owners of homes at Prospector’s Point are upset with their HOA, which they say has mismanaged their dues—and now they’re forced to pay the price.

CAP Management says homeowners will have to come up with between $5 to $7 million to pay for serious repairs that could affect residents’ and visitors’ health and safety.

There’s the peeling paint, the crumbling sidewalk and disintegrating drywall.

“The property has been neglected for the past 10 years. Partly because of the recession, partly because of poor construction, initially. But now the community is at a state where the city is requiring we do $5 million dollars of work,” says Chris Crigler, of CAP Management, which took over managing the HOA about a year-and-a-half ago."

Longwood HOA enacts strict anti-bear bylaws | Seminole County

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."

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."

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."

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."

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.

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!

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.

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.

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:

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.

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."

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.