Condominium Governance and Law in Global Urban Context - 1st Edition -

Condominium Governance and Law in Global Urban Context - 1st Edition -

I have a chapter in this outstanding collection of articles, written by an all-star cast and edited by Randy Lippert and Stefan Treffers. Here's the writeup, and you can find more by following the link to the publisher's website:

"This book examines condominium, property, governance, and law in international and conceptual perspective and reveals this urban realm as complex and mutating. Condominiums are proliferating the world over and transforming the socio-spatial organization of cities and residential life. The collection assembles arguably the most prominent scholars in the world currently working in this broad area and situated in multiple disciplines, including legal and socio-legal studies, political science, public administration, and sociology. Their analyses span condominium governance and law on five continents and in nine countries: the United States (US), China, Australia, the United Kingdom (UK), Canada, South Africa, Israel, Denmark, and Spain. Neglected issues and emerging trends related to condominium governance and law in cities from Tel Aviv to Chicago to Melbourne are discerned and analysed. The book pursues fresh empirical inquiries and cogent conceptual engagements regarding how condominiums are governed through law and other means. It includes accounts of a wide range of governance difficulties including chronic anti-social owner behaviour, short-term rentals, and even the COVID-19 pandemic, and how they are being dealt with. By uncovering crucial cross-national commonalities, the book reveals the global urban context of condominium governance and law as empirically rich and conceptually fruitful."

Private Metropolis — University of Minnesota Press

Private Metropolis — University of Minnesota Press

This is the new book, coming out later this year, that Dennis Judd, Alba Alexander, and I edited.  Here's the writeup, and you can read more by following the link to the publisher's page on the book:

"Examines the complex ecology of quasi-public and privatized institutions that mobilize and administer many of the political, administrative, and fiscal resources of today’s metropolitan regions In recent decades metropolitan regions in the United States have witnessed the rise of multitudes of “shadow governments” that often supersede or replace functions traditionally associated with municipalities and other local governments inherited from the urban past. The essays in Private Metropolis grapple with the difficult and timely questions that arise from this new ecology of governance, provoking a long-overdue debate about the future of urban governance."

Rich Americans Are Increasingly Looking for Second Passport

Rich Americans Are Increasingly Looking for Second Passport

Having wrecked the American economy and political system by supporting policies that caused skyrocketing inequality and the erosion of the middle class, rich people are now looking for someplace else to live. 

New York coronavirus exodus fuels Maine real estate boom

New York coronavirus exodus fuels Maine real estate boom

"Prospective renters and buyers were desperate, according to brokers on the front lines. “People have called and said, ‘Get me any house in Maine,’ ” said Gwyneth Freeman of Better Homes & Gardens, The Masiello Group. A strong economy and low interest rates made 2019 a historically good year for Maine real estate, resulting in 40 percent less inventory in 2020. When frantic out-of-staters began looking to escape the pandemic, housing demand exceeded supply, pushing prices up and accounting for a large volume of closed sales."

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By gorey.

Real estate prices are about to drop 10%

Real estate prices are about to drop 10%

"The wholesale disruption of COVID-19 is taking a toll on the real estate market. A new survey suggests that offices will remain under capacity for months, retail and hospitality will continue to struggle, and, despite some increases in single-family home values, real estate across the board will see its value fall around 10% next year. These are some of the main findings of “Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2021,” a new report from the Urban Land Institute and PwC."

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I've been wondering whether or not the industry would start to get nervous about the impact of COVID on real estate markets and prices. Here's a large-scale study based on interviews with professionals that sees significant negative impacts, except perhaps in suburban residential property.

Inside the climate battle quietly raging about US homes | US news | The Guardian

Inside the climate battle quietly raging about US homes | US news | The Guardian

"On one side are the city and state officials trying to go greener, and on the other are real estate developers and the natural gas industry. The International Code Council, which like the World Series largely concerns Americans, met this week on updating the baseline codes that most states and cities adopt for new buildings. The council is reviewing about two dozen proposals that would, for example, require builders to install electrical outlets near gas stoves that may one day be replaced with electric ones; and to wire enough power to garages where people may one day want to plug in electric cars...With the stakes high, climate advocates last year launched a campaign to make sure that more climate-minded officials – the ones that set energy and environment rules, in addition to those who enforce code – were involved in the normally obscure process."

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The real estate development industry is accustomed to having veto power over major building code changes, which is why they are so freaked out over having people with more of an environmental orientation involved in making the rules.

DOJ Designates New York City as an “Anarchist Jurisdiction” – NBC New York

DOJ Designates New York City as an “Anarchist Jurisdiction” – NBC New York

"New York City is one of three places that "have permitted violence and destruction of property to persist and have refused to undertake reasonable measures to counteract criminal activities," leading to its designation as an "anarchist jurisdiction," the Justice Department said Monday. Rather than idle words, the designation has potential financial consequences. President Trump issued a memo earlier this month directing the DOJ to identify jurisdictions that, in its view, were not enforcing the law appropriately. Designated cities could lose their federal funding. Trump's order gives the director of the Office of Management and Budget 30 days to issue guidance to federal agencies on restricting eligibility for federal grants for the cities on the DOJ list. Such grants make up a huge portion of NYC's already strapped annual budget -- more than $7 billion in fiscal 2021 alone, or 7.5% of the city's projected total revenue."

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The only anarchist jurisdiction in this country today is the White House.

Placer County CA homeless people find a house in the suburbs | The Sacramento Bee

Placer County CA homeless people find a house in the suburbs | The Sacramento Bee

"As cities around the country struggle with a growing homeless population and few solutions beyond temporary homeless shelters or single-occupancy hotels, Placer County has been placing some of its homeless population on quiet suburban streets. It’s an attempt to fully integrate formerly homeless people into the community without the extreme costs of building permanent affordable housing...In interviews with The Bee, neighbors also said the existence of the home could threaten their property values, and that erratic behavior, loitering, drinking and smoking in public are unwelcome in their neighborhood.

But for the formerly homeless people who occupy the homes, they’ve found a new sense of comfort without the hassles of living in shelters, on church doorsteps, or the street."

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Thanks to Fred Pilot for this link.  This is a difficult issue for suburbanites, who tend to believe that they have moved away from social issues such as homelessness. But doing it this way is much less expensive than building new housing for the homeless: "The unique arrangement in Placer County contrasts starkly with the extraordinary per-person costs of developing new housing for homeless people in California. At the Capitol Park Hotel downtown, for example, development costs will reach more than $445,000 per unit for apartments that are tiny — about 250 square feet. With the program in Placer County, six people live in each of the four houses — purchased for about $600,000 each — a significantly lower per-person cost than new affordable housing developments."

The Fed Now Owns Nearly One Third of All US Mortgages

The Fed Now Owns Nearly One Third of All US Mortgages

"The Fed has snapped up $1 trillion of mortgage bonds since March. It bought around $300 billion of the bonds in each of March and April, and since then has been buying about $100 billion a month.  The Fed now owns almost a third of bonds backed by home loans in the U.S.  Buying the securities has pushed mortgage rates lower, with the average 30-year rate falling to 2.91% as of last week from 3.3% in early February. Morgan Stanley analysts pointed out in late March that the buying was running at eight times the pace seen in prior episodes of Fed purchasing under programs known as quantitative easing."

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Californians are buying their own fire trucks on Craigslist - SFGate

Californians are buying their own fire trucks on Craigslist - SFGate

"One seller is hoping to get $15,000 for a 53-year-old Ford 150 fire truck.  He confesses that he "was told the pump needed some seals," but suggests that "with these lightning complex fires going on, maybe you could use it." Over the last few years, as wildfires have become more common, there has also been a rise in a small but growing number of wealthy residents hiring private firefighting crews to watch over their acres. Cal Fire has discouraged attempts to defend one's own property during an evacuation order. “People don’t understand the veracity of these fires that we’ve been dealing with the last five or so years,” Cal Fire Fire Captain Scott McLean told SFGATE. “They’re very unpredictable and you can’t project what the fire’s going to do.”

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The ultimate in privatization. You buy your own fire truck and hire your own firefighting crew.

San Francisco Real Estate - Complicated Market Conditions - Compass

San Francisco Real Estate - Complicated Market Conditions - Compass

"As illustrated below, the San Francisco market currently reflects a variety of both positive and negative indicators. Among Bay Area markets, the city is seeing the softest recovery from the initial shelter-in-place plunge in activity in early spring, while some other counties - less expensive, more suburban or rural - are experiencing extremely high demand. (See table near the end of this report.)  Within San Francisco itself, supply and demand conditions have diverged dramatically between house and condo markets, with the latter being far weaker and rapidly climbing into "buyer's market" territory."

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Here is the report that the article I linked to below was based on.  The market for condos is showing signs of weakness, which always seems to happen when a downturn in the real estate market begins. Condos are hit first. Does that mean that other parts of the real estate market will go down? Not necessarily, but we shall see. Some analysts think the suburban market for single family homes will benefit from the forces that are hurting the condo market. COVID, unemployment, civil unrest...

SF condo inventory spikes, with price reductions skyrocketing

SF condo inventory spikes, with price reductions skyrocketing

"As buyers become pickier and shelter in place orders exacerbate the need for private outdoor space, the San Francisco condo market has been beset by rising inventory and declining prices, according to new data compiled by Compass. The young people who would have been shopping for condos may be more likely to be impacted by layoffs, according to the report. There's also increasing demand outside of the city, with those staying showing a vast preference for single-family homes, which have not seen the same level of declining demand. "Within San Francisco itself, supply and demand conditions have diverged dramatically between house and condo markets, with the latter being far weaker and rapidly climbing into 'buyer's market' territory," according to the report."

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Another data point supporting the notion that demand for center city real estate is beginning to drop, while demand for housing in the suburbs is going up.

Late-Stage Delinquencies are Surging, Especially Those With FHA Loans

Late-Stage Delinquencies are Surging, Especially Those With FHA Loans

"The overall rate of loans 30 or more days past due increased during the second quarter to a seasonally adjusted 8.22 percent of all outstanding one-to-four-unit mortgages. This was up 386 basis points (bps) from the first quarter of the year and 369 bps year-over-year. MBA includes loans in forbearance in its delinquency numbers."

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Mortgage delinquencies are generally accompanied by not paying HOA and condo assessments, which is bad news. Banks can survive these situations a lot better than associations that operate on a shoestring budget and have no source of income but assessments.

Steve Bannon Arrested on Superyacht Owned by Chinese Billionaire – Robb Report

Steve Bannon Arrested on Superyacht Owned by Chinese Billionaire – Robb Report

"[Guo] Wengui, an exiled Chinese billionaire, has business ties to Bannon. He was not arrested yesterday, but there are warrants out for his arrest in Beijing, where authorities have accused Wengui of crimes including bribery, kidnapping, money laundering, fraud and rape. He fled to the U.S. in late 2014 and lives in self-imposed exile in Manhattan. He is also a member of President Trump’s Mar-A-Lago club in Florida."

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Guo Wengui is a great example of Privatopia. He is essentially stateless by choice, a citizen of nowhere who moves through a world of private institutions and private wealth, protecting his wealth from taxation and living above the civil and criminal laws of all nations. And here is Steve Bannon, Mr. Nationalism, the architect of Trump's nativist-themed campaign, palling around with him. The hypocrisy is pretty obvious. Most of Trump's anti-government, pro-privatization moves have been scams of some sort. Bannon's fake border wall-building fund raising was a scam. The effort to destroy the US Postal Service is another.

Urban Exiles Are Fueling a Suburban Housing Boom Across the U.S.

Urban Exiles Are Fueling a Suburban Housing Boom Across the U.S.

"In the Covid era, the single-family houses that are the stock in trade for Previti’s Frontier Communities are a hot commodity. Armed with the lowest mortgage rates in history, buyers are increasingly shunning urban centers, settling instead where they can live at a safe distance from their neighbors. “Is this the little runup before everything runs off the rails?” asks Previti, chief executive officer."

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I've seen a number of articles saying the same thing, but I'm holding off on believing it for another year or so. There are too many unknowns about COVID-19, the state of the economy, and the November election.

Top Consumer Home Features During Coronavirus - Realtor.com Economic Research

Top Consumer Home Features During Coronavirus - Realtor.com Economic Research



Some people, notably author Joel Kotkin, argue that COVID-19 is killing cities. I think it is too early to predict that people will move from cities to suburbs to avoid contagion. Pandemics are as old as humanity and so are cities, which are bigger than ever all over the world.

• "Consumers value quiet neighborhoods, outdoor spaces and proximity to grocery stores during pandemic
• Reflecting constraints of quarantines, consumers struggle with confinement, separation from family and friends, and elevated stress
• More space, updated kitchens and home gyms top list of desired changes for current homes
• Having more personal and family time ranks as top benefit of sheltering at home
• Wish list for next homes: bigger houses, more outdoor spaces and updated kitchens"

Fraud & Embezzlement – Community Associations Network

Fraud & Embezzlement – Community Associations Network

I lost track of all the fraud and embezzlement stories, but Community Associations Network has it all! Check it out.

Condo Prices Falling at Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago

Condo Prices Falling at Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago

"Prices are down at the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago. They’re down big-time. Hotel rooms in the 98-story building can be purchased for less than $200,000 these days, though real estate experts might caution you against pulling the trigger: After hotel management fees, taxes and interest on the loan, there likely wouldn’t be much rental income on the room, Gail Lissner managing director at Integra Realty Resources, told the Chicago Sun-Times."

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Heartbreaking. Where's my tiny violin?

PCB woman arrested for allegedly defrauding condo associations

PCB woman arrested for allegedly defrauding condo associations

"PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG) - The Bay County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday the arrest of a Panama City Beach woman for allegedly defrauding several condo associations. Deputies say 52-year-old Lynn Price has been charged with Ongoing Scheme to Defraud in Excess of $50,000 for her alleged involvement. Bay County Sheriff’s officials say they were made aware of the possible theft back in May when $230,000 was removed from one local condo association’s bank account and deposited into a second association’s account. Deputies tell us the second association began reviewing their bank records and found that money had been removed from their account since at least 2017 by their association manager, Lynn Price."

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A few years ago I tried to keep track of the condo association fraud stories but there were so many I gave up. If you live in a condo or HOA you need to be vigilant about where your money is going and who has access to it.

The Surprising Ways Race Remains a Factor in Mortgage Lending | realtor.com®

The Surprising Ways Race Remains a Factor in Mortgage Lending | realtor.com®

“There are many practices that lenders can engage in to accomplish the same thing as literal redlining," says Evan McKenzie, a political science professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. "These are very hard to discover. They're practices in a bank that everyone knows they're doing. But it's not stated policy."

Will Trump Save the Suburbs By Cutting a Rule To Stop Discrimination? | realtor.com®

Will Trump Save the Suburbs By Cutting a Rule To Stop Discrimination? | realtor.com®

"Trump "is trying to win back the suburban vote by scaring them and claiming he is up against an opponent who wants to destroy the suburbs through racial and economic integration," says Evan McKenzie, a political science professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. "He's invoking the idea of the suburbs of the past, that were uniformly white and prosperous."

What is the most private city in the world? | Cities | The Guardian

What is the most private city in the world? | Cities | The Guardian

"It is notoriously difficult to quantify and map the privatisation of space and place. Dubai, which must lay claim to being one of the most privatised cities in the world, is defined by its newness – and it is this newness which is generally an indicator of how private a place is likely to be. This is because today’s dominant economic model is reflected by high-security, privatised plazas which house shopping areas, conference centres and luxury apartments in an environment less reminiscent of the public realm than an airport lounge."

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This is from 2015, but it is fascinating.

U.S. town creates local currency to boost coronavirus relief

U.S. town creates local currency to boost coronavirus relief

"Tucked away under lock and key in a former railroad depot turned small-town museum in the U.S. state of Washington, a wooden printing press cranked back to life to mint currency after nearly 90 dormant years. The end product: $25 wooden bills bearing the town's name - Tenino - with the words "COVID Relief" superimposed on the image of a bat and the Latin phrase "Habemus autem sub potestate" (We have it under control) printed in cursive. With the coronavirus pandemic plunging the United States into a recession, decimating small businesses and causing job losses across the country, some local governments are looking for innovative ways to help residents weather the storm. For Tenino, the answer was the revival of the local currency that had bolstered the town's economy in 1931 in the wake of the Great Depression."

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Real-estate developers refuse to change communities' plantation names

Real-estate developers refuse to change communities' plantation names

"Volusia and Flagler counties are home to several “plantation” communities. They include Halifax Plantation, Plantation Oaks of Ormond Beach and in Flagler, Sugar Mill Plantation and Plantation Bay. Flagler County is also home to Palm Coast Plantation as well as the Bulow Plantation manufactured home park. West Volusia is home to the DeBary Plantation golf course community. Developers of plantation communities in Volusia and Flagler counties said they were unaware of any public outcries locally to change the names of their developments. “It never even occurred to me that it was something that needed doing,” said Scott Vanacore of Vanacore Homes in Ormond Beach.

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Utterly clueless.

Inside the luxury nuclear bunker protecting the mega-rich from the apocalypse - CNET

Inside the luxury nuclear bunker protecting the mega-rich from the apocalypse - CNET

"A volcanic-ash scrubber, a decontamination room, a waterslide -- when it comes to surviving a nuclear apocalypse, the Survival Condo has everything you could need, at a price."

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WTF is wrong with these people?

St. Louis couple pulls firearms on protesters cutting through their private street - CNN

St. Louis couple pulls firearms on protesters cutting through their private street - CNN

The private streets associations of St. Louis are early examples of HOAs. These two lawyers almost went full metal jacket on peaceful protesters who had the temerity to march down their private streets. The man of the house was interviewed about it and kept repeating "private property" over and over, as if they were magic words that entitled him to pull out his assault rifle.

The £450 BILLION yacht: Concept for 200-yard-long mega-catamaran with a built in HARBOUR | Daily Mail Online

The £450 BILLION yacht: Concept for 200-yard-long mega-catamaran with a built in HARBOUR | Daily Mail Online

As wealth inequality explodes around the world, there is a class of super-rich people who live like villains in a James Bond movie. Their own private islands, yachts bigger than a football stadium, underground condo bunkers...sooner or later one of them will build a fortress inside a volcano.

The arsenal in the hands of Wisconsin’s police - Wisconsin Examiner

The arsenal in the hands of Wisconsin’s police - Wisconsin Examiner

"[T]the 1033 Program has given Wisconsin law enforcement nearly 2,300 semi-automatic rifles, almost 200 .45 caliber pistols, an ACOG scope kit, 60 night vision sniper scopes and 42 mine resistant vehicles (commonly known as MRAPs).  The MRAPs, carrying a sticker price between $495,000 and $733,000, were built to protect soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan from improvised explosive devices, but now they sit in the garages of 39 police departments and sheriff’s offices around Wisconsin (Brown, Pierce and Polk Counties have each received two MRAPs through the program)...Most of the MRAPs, 29, are used by county sheriff’s offices, but the remaining 13 are in local police departments in cities as big as Eau Claire and Appleton or as small as Whitewater and Tomah. In Whitewater — a city with a population of 14,000 and a university with an undergraduate enrollment of 10,000 — there isn’t a dedicated grocery store. But in the city garage, the police have an MRAP."

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American policing is off the rails and everybody knows it except American police. 

The Pandemic is Making the Suburbs Even More Appealing - The Atlantic

The Pandemic is Making the Suburbs Even More Appealing - The Atlantic

"The pandemic will improve suburban life, perhaps in lasting ways."

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Is the pandemic making suburban life more attractive? The big shutdown may change things permanently. If suburbanites can continue working from home, the agonizing car commute is no longer a factor. Lawns, outdoor grills, pools, parks, low density and low risk of infection--

How Racist Clauses in Housing Deeds Divided America | realtor.com®

How Racist Clauses in Housing Deeds Divided America | realtor.com®

"It's had a disastrous impact on African Americans," says Evan McKenzie, a political science professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. "The symbolic statements that these covenants make is a national disgrace. It’s a legacy of shame.”

Westchester County Family Says They Were Unfairly Targeted After Being Forced To Take Down Banner With MLK Quote – CBS New York

Westchester County Family Says They Were Unfairly Targeted After Being Forced To Take Down Banner With MLK Quote – CBS New York

"The banner reads, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” It used to hang over the Brown family’s bay window in Eastchester above several yard signs supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. “I had the big sign for a reason because this needs to be prominent. I want people to see this because this needs to stay in the forefront of everyone’s mind right now,” Avisia Brown said. The banner with the quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was up for nearly two weeks, the family says, until they happened to find a violation letter from the town in the dirt near their front steps."

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The city should take a hard look at this decision, because they may run afoul of the US Supreme Court decision in Ladue v. Gilleo. Yard signs are protected by the First Amendment. There could be a legitimate "time, place, and manner" issue if the ordinance deals with size, placement, etc., rather than a total ban, but I think the city might be vulnerable to a First Amendment challenge.

Coronavirus update: People flee cities to live in suburbs

Coronavirus update: People flee cities to live in suburbs

"If millennials once piled into the cities, fueling downtown renewal and growth, apparently they are now piling out. The stay-at-home orders brought on by coronavirus have more potential homebuyers looking for properties in the suburbs. Millennials are now the largest cohort of buyers.  As the real estate market began to recover in May, home searches in suburban zip codes jumped 13%, according to realtor.com, one of the largest real estate listing websites. That doubled the pace of growth in urban areas...“This migration to the suburbs is not a new trend, but it has become more pronounced this spring,” said Javier Vivas, realtor.com director of economic research. “After several months of shelter-in-place orders, the desire to have more space and the potential for more people to work remotely are likely two of the factors contributing to the popularity of the burbs.”"

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Several recent articles have said this is a trend. Time will tell, and so will progress toward a vaccine and treatments for COVID. But will there be lingering fears of dense urban life?

How Racist Clauses in Housing Deeds Divided America | realtor.com®

How Racist Clauses in Housing Deeds Divided America | realtor.com®

Detailed article on race restrictive covenants and the disastrous effects they have had on African-Americans. Includes quotes from me.

Tempers boil over as Democrats square off with Trump supporters at golf cart rally - Villages-News.com

Tempers boil over as Democrats square off with Trump supporters at golf cart rally - Villages-News.com

The Villages is a gigantic retirement community in Florida. Things got heated when anti-Trump demonstrators squared off against pro-Trump people in golf carts. Very heated.

Luxury real estate demand surges in Aspen, Park City | Fox Business

Luxury real estate demand surges in Aspen, Park City | Fox Business

"“People have realized that you can work from home,” he said. “And the big question has become: where do you want to sequester with your family in the event that this ever happens again? And so I think people are looking for space and looking for areas where there’s a lot less density.”

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Rich people have been seceding from America for a long time. Now COVID, civil disturbances, and the ability to work from anywhere are combining to accelerate that trend. Private communities are the option of choice for many of these folks.

ACTHA - Current Legislation

ACTHA - Current Legislation

Illinois legislation for 2019-2020.

Illinois Articles – Community Associations Network

Illinois Articles – Community Associations Network

Associations in the Chicago area are trying to figure out how to handle many issues arising from the COVID pandemic that has hit Cook County harder than anywhere in the US outside the NYC metro area. There are some good articles here that address that.

‘What Are We Going To Have Left In Our Community?’ Aldermen React with Panic, Sorrow to Unrest | Chicago News | WTTW

‘What Are We Going To Have Left In Our Community?’ Aldermen React with Panic, Sorrow to Unrest | Chicago News | WTTW

This phone conference with Mayor Lori Lightfoot and city council members apparently happened two days ago as of this writing, on June 3. It is pretty grim. There was looting all over Chicago and in a number of suburbs, including 30 miles away in Naperville.  I live just outside the City of Chicago, in Oak Park. There was quite a bit of looting here. On the east side of Oak Park, which borders Chicago, several stores on Madison just east of Austin Blvd. are boarded up, as were a number of stores elsewhere in OP, including the Target way over on Harlem and even some stores in River Forest. But I think the looting and shooting have stopped.

As U.S. Cities Crumble, Demand For Rural And Suburban Properties Is Soaring – End Of The American Dream

As U.S. Cities Crumble, Demand For Rural And Suburban Properties Is Soaring – End Of The American Dream

"The COVID-19 pandemic, a historic economic downturn and extremely violent riots in major cities all across America are fueling a sudden surge in interest in rural and suburban properties.  This represents a major shift, because prior to 2020 we had seen a tremendous boom in real estate prices in large cities such as New York, San Francisco and Seattle."

A spectre is haunting the West – the spectre of authoritarian capitalism | openDemocracy

A spectre is haunting the West – the spectre of authoritarian capitalism | openDemocracy

Which U.S. cities will best weather the pandemic? | Nuveen

Which U.S. cities will best weather the pandemic? | Nuveen

"Markets with a large exposure to newer non-cyclical industries such as information technology (San Jose), life science (Boston) and telecom (Dallas) are positioned to perform the best. Industries with a large exposure to cyclical industries such as tourism (New Orleans), hospitality (Las Vegas), energy (Oklahoma City) and retail (Miami) are positioned to perform the worst. The five most highly-ranked MSAs in our analysis are San Jose, Nashville, Raleigh, Washington, D.C. and Salt Lake City. In contrast, the five lowest-ranking are Detroit, Louisville, Buffalo, Oklahoma City and New Orleans."

The Future is Public | Transnational Institute

The Future is Public | Transnational Institute

"Resistance to privatisation has turned into a powerful force for change. (Re)municipalisation refers to the reclaiming of public ownership of services as well as the creation of new public services. In recent years, our research has identified more than 1,400 successful (re)municipalisation cases involving more than 2,400 cities in 58 countries around the world."

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New report from the Transnational Institute about deprivatization.

Chicago Condo DeConversions Coming Back

Chicago Condo DeConversions Coming Back

Thousands of affordable condo units have been turned into apartments by megabucks investment companies that are buying people out, getting 75% or 85% of the ownership interests, forcing the rest of the owners to sell, and "deconverting" the project.

What homeowners associations should do when residents can’t pay during the pandemic - The Washington Post

What homeowners associations should do when residents can’t pay during the pandemic - The Washington Post

Unemployment is off the charts and, as in 2008, HOAs and condo associations are seeing more owners unable to pay their assessments. This article is about how to balance the association's need for revenue with the need to show some compassion and common sense.

How Life in Cities Will Change Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic

How Life in Cities Will Change Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic

USSC rules that public access TV station is not a state actor

17-1702 Manhattan Community Access Corp. v. Halleck (06/17/2019)

This is a 5-4 decision with all the Republicans in the majority and all the Democrats dissenting. It has some relevance for the "HOAs should be limited by the Constitution" argument that many HOA activists believe in. The case is not helpful to the HOA activist position, because the USSC overruled an appellate court that said the station was a state actor. I will have to read this in detail to analyze it, but for now, here is the synopsis:



"New York state law requires cable operators to set aside channels on their cable systems for public access. Those channels are operated by the cable operator unless the local government chooses to itself operate the channels or designates a private entity to operate the channels. New York City (the City) has designated a private nonprofit corporation, petitioner Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN), to

operate the public access channels on Time Warner’s cable system in Manhattan. Respondents DeeDee Halleck and Jesus Papoleto Melendez produced a film critical of MNN to be aired on MNN’s public access channels. MNN televised the film. MNN later suspended Halleck and Melendez from all MNN services and facilities. The producers sued, claiming that MNN violated their First Amendment free-speech rights when it restricted their access to the public access channels because of the content of their film. The District Court dismissed the claim on the ground that MNN is not a state actor and therefore is not subject to First Amendment constraints on its editorial discretion. Reversing in relevant part, the Second Circuit concluded that MNN is a state actor subject to First Amendment constraints.

Held: MNN is not a state actor subject to the First Amendment. Pp. 5–16."

Here is a link to the full opinion. 

Country Clubs | Condos | Homeowners Association Fees

Country Clubs | Condos | Homeowners Association Fees

"Some older condos in South Florida communities built around country clubs are selling for as little as $1.

Stephan Burklin, for example, recently cut the asking price for a one-bedroom condo at Boca West Country Club from $10,000 to $1. Burklin also is offering to pay the buyer’s homeowners association fees for the first year. His mother and father lived there, but she died and he is moving to an assisted living facility, and the condo is too small for Burklin, 51, who is married and has three kids."

Chaos in Preckwinkle's Hyde Park condo: neighbors say she ignored their concerns | Chicago Sun-Times

Chaos in Preckwinkle's Hyde Park condo: neighbors say she ignored their concerns | Chicago Sun-Times

"Mayoral candidate Toni Preckwinkle owns a Hyde Park condominium where Chicago police have repeatedly responded to domestic-disturbance calls involving her 37-year-old son — and some residents say she doesn’t seem to have done anything to address their concerns."

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Toni Preckwinkle is one of two remaining candidates for Mayor of Chicago, with the election being next Tuesday, April 2. She is currently running behind Lori Lightfoot, according to the limited polling we have. The last thing Preckwinkle needs is more bad press, and here it is.

'Flintstone' house sparks lawsuit from California town: 'It's an eyesore' | Art and design | The Guardian

'Flintstone' house sparks lawsuit from California town: 'It's an eyesore' | Art and design | The Guardian

Biggest developments in Chicago | Chicago development

Biggest developments in Chicago | Chicago development

Chicago has a bunch of huge downtown residential towers going up, with high-end condo units. The bottom end of the condo market is being devoured by investors who are turning them into apartment buildings using Section 15 of the Illinois Condominium Property Act. They get 75% of the ownership interests on their side, and sell the building.

Bill would give HOA’s taxing authority - Mississippi Center for Public Policy

Bill would give HOA’s taxing authority - Mississippi Center for Public Policy

I wonder if these people have thought this through. If they have taxing authority, then aren't they state actors, which triggers all sorts of statutory and constitutional obligations that HOAs don't want to assume?

‘No HOA’: Man makes entire house pink, says neighbors can’t do anything about it

‘No HOA’: Man makes entire house pink, says neighbors can’t do anything about it

Definitely a guy who shouldn't live in an HOA. And Exhibit A for why some people do want to live in HOAs.

Argument analysis: No clear resolution on whether First Amendment applies to public-access channels - SCOTUSblog

Argument analysis: No clear resolution on whether First Amendment applies to public-access channels - SCOTUSblog

The US Supreme Court just heard arguments in a case dealing with whether a not-for-profit corporation can be a "state actor" for purposes of applying constitutional rights. I will be watching this closely to see if the ruling has any implications for CIDs, especially big HOAs.



"The Supreme Court heard oral argument today in a case involving whether a private nonprofit corporation that runs a public-access TV channel is a “state actor,” who can be sued for violations of the First Amendment. After roughly an hour of debate, there was no clear winner in the case: The justices who spoke appeared to be divided, and two justices – Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch – asked no questions at all."

If you would like to read more about Manhattan Community Access Corp. v. Halleck, follow the link.

The Private Company Reshaping American Police Policy - CityLab

The Private Company Reshaping American Police Policy - CityLab

"The policy was written by Lexipol, a California-based company that says it provides policies for approximately 3,400 police, fire, and correctional agencies in 35 states. It has grown rapidly over the last 15 years and saturated California, where its clients include more than 90 percent of law enforcement agencies. It’s impossible to know just how far Lexipol’s reach has spread as the company declines to provide a list of clients, saying that it is proprietary information. But according to an analysis published last year in the Texas Law Review, “although there are other private, nonprofit, and government entities that draft police policies, Lexipol is now a dominant force in police policymaking across the country.”

As a result, a large portion of American police policy is now being drafted by a little-known private company with no public oversight."

Survival of the Richest – Future Human – Medium

Survival of the Richest – Future Human – Medium

A professor was invited to give a talk to a small group of super-rich hedge fund people. He thought they would want to hear about the future of technology to guide their investment decisions. Instead, they wanted to know about how they could escape the coming collapse of society.



"Taking their cue from Elon Musk colonizing Mars, Peter Thiel reversing the aging process, or Sam Altman and Ray Kurzweil uploading their minds into supercomputers, they were preparing for a digital future that had a whole lot less to do with making the world a better place than it did with transcending the human condition altogether and insulating themselves from a very real and present danger of climate change, rising sea levels, mass migrations, global pandemics, nativist panic, and resource depletion. For them, the future of technology is really about just one thing: escape.

Guess what, America? Other countries have same condo and HOA problems

Guess what, America? Other countries have same condo and HOA problems:

Deborah Goonan gives examples from other countries.

Ukraine approves list of state-owned enterprises for privatization | KyivPost

Ukraine approves list of state-owned enterprises for privatization | KyivPost: "Jump-starting a process that has been stalled for more than two years, Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers on May 10 approved a list of 26 large state-owned companies for privatization. The sale of the state’ stakes in the large companies is expected to bring in Hr 21 billion, or $800 million, to the budget this year- seven times more than privatization raised in in 2017. In addition, the government also approved a “general” list of more than 700 enterprises that are to be privatized over the next three years, Economy Minister Stepan Kubiv wrote in a Facebook post on May 10."

--

This isn't fooling the public, though: "According to a sociological survey conducted by the Center for Economic Strategy in November of last year, 80 percent of Ukrainians think that only oligarchs will benefit from the sale of state-owned enterprises." Privatization in neighboring was a massive transfer of trillions of dollars from the government to a small number of people who became known as the oligarchs, and they helped to turn the country into a kleptocracy.

Oregon Business - New kid on the block: The urban gated community

Oregon Business - New kid on the block: The urban gated community: "“You could literally not leave the building,” says Christian Haggarty, a 48-year-old sales manager who lives at Rivage with his wife and their dog. “Sometimes it feels like living in a resort. You have to grocery shop, but you could spend the rest of your time there.” "

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No, thanks.

HOA Calls 911 - YouTube

HOA Calls 911 - YouTube:

This call to 911 concerns a homeowner putting up signs about a missing cat. Good grief.

Chatham County residents protest HOA decision to kill 35 beavers :: WRAL.com

Chatham County residents protest HOA decision to kill 35 beavers :: WRAL.com: ""Anything that's natural can be a nuisance," said Jessica Walden-Gray, who lives in the neighborhood."

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That's quite a sentence.

Woman says her home's being destroyed in the midst of HOA battle - KXAN

Woman says her home's being destroyed in the midst of HOA battle - KXAN

"AUSTIN (KXAN) - An Austin woman says the foundation is beginning to crack under her home after her HOA refused to let her remove an invasive tree in her yard. "

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This looks like one of those cases where the HOA changes their position.

HOA embezzler’s trial to begin | Local News | smdailyjournal.com

HOA embezzler’s trial to begin | Local News | smdailyjournal.com

"The trial for a man accused of scheming to embezzle nearly $2.8 million from the San Mateo Woodlake Condominium Association between 2007 and 2013 is set to begin Wednesday, more than five years after he and a co-conspirator were initially accused of the scheme, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office."

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These HOA embezzlement cases rarely go to trial.

Olathe HOA files police report, calls meeting over shortfall | The Kansas City Star

Olathe HOA files police report, calls meeting over shortfall | The Kansas City Star: "An Olathe HOA has filed a police report and called a special meeting to discuss concerns about its former property manager that it says in a related lawsuit could cause "irreparable harm" to the neighborhood.

Parkhill Manor Homes Association said in the lawsuit that Jonathan Young and his company, Haven Property Management, have "failed and refused to deliver plaintiff's corporate books and records and bank accounts."

The HOA notified homeowners of the problem in a letter sent last week."

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Koch Bodyguards Got Police Badges From Same Tiny Town as Mercer - Bloomberg

Koch Bodyguards Got Police Badges From Same Tiny Town as Mercer - Bloomberg

These rich people love becoming a law unto themselves. What puzzles me is that ordinary people buy this anti-government propaganda, when government is the only thing that can protect them against private tyranny.

Opinion | America’s Federally Financed Ghettos - The New York Times

Opinion | America’s Federally Financed Ghettos - The New York Times:

The federal government's policies favored one-race neighborhoods for decades. The racial segregation we see around us today is the intended result of public policies and private actions.

Opinion | America’s Federally Financed Ghettos - The New York Times

Opinion | America’s Federally Financed Ghettos - The New York Times:

The federal government's policies favored one-race neighborhoods for decades. The racial segregation we see around us today is the intended result of public policies and private actions.

50 absolutely stunning 3D street art works | Kenga Rex

50 absolutely stunning 3D street art works | Kenga Rex:

I have no idea how artists do this, but I love it.

Civil Process Service Rules in Gated Communities - EIN News

Civil Process Service Rules in Gated Communities - EIN News: "California Code of Civil Procedure § 415.21 provides:

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, any person shall be granted access to a gated community for a reasonable period of time for the sole purpose of per-forming lawful service of process or service of a subpoena upon displaying a current driver’s license or other identification, and one of the following:

1) A badge or other confirmation that the individual is acting in his or her capacity as a representative of a county sheriff or marshal, or as an investigator employed by an office of the Attorney General, a county counsel, a city attorney, a district attorney, or a public defender; (OR)

2) Evidence of current registration as a process server."

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So they can run, but they can't hide.

Summerville HOA and others sued for breach of contract | WCBD

Summerville HOA and others sued for breach of contract | WCBD: "SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCBD) - A Summerville subdivision homeowners association, along with others, has been sued for breach of contract and other claims.

​In a lawsuit that was filed on March 20 in the Dorchester County Court of Common Pleas, Halcyon Real Estate Services owner David Peterson claims that the White Gables neighborhood homeowners association broke a new contract for landscaping and a contract for property management for the neighborhood. It then alleges that the contract was given back to its former manager, Community Management Group.

There are also claims of harassment, stalking, libel and slander against Peterson"

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Another nasty HOA lawsuit.

Homeowner trying to grow bluebonnets is frustrated with HOA fines

Homeowner trying to grow bluebonnets is frustrated with HOA fines:

The story goes into careful detail about this saga.

Franklin veteran fighting HOA to keep flag outside his home - Cincinnati News, Weather, Sports from FOX19 NOW-WXIX

Franklin veteran fighting HOA to keep flag outside his home - Cincinnati News, Weather, Sports from FOX19 NOW-WXIX: "FRANKLIN, OH (FOX19) -
A Franklin veteran feels his patriotism is under attack after his homeowner's association asked him to take down the flag in front of his home.

Wayne Marchant feels a sense of pride every time he walks past the American flag.

"I feel good about it," said Marchant.

On Friday, though, he says he was disgusted when he got a letter in the mail from the Manager of the Renaissance Homeowner's Association stating that the flagpole is a violation of the community rules.

"They have HOA members that periodically drive through the neighborhood looking for anything that might be a violation of the HOA rules. They noticed that in their words 'the flagpole had been erected in our front yard,'" said Marchant.

The letter says the flagpole needs to be removed or modified. He's not sure what the modification would be, but he says this flag has been outside of his home for the past eight years. It was a gift from his wife."

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It's interesting that nearly all these situations involve the HOA saying the flagpole is the problem, but the media always say that they are making the owner take down the flag. Flag is one thing. Flagpole is another.

Homeowner fights HOA over religious statue removal request

Homeowner fights HOA over religious statue removal request: "RIO RANCHO, N.M. (KRQE) - Is a homeowners association limiting religious expression in the front yard of a Rio Rancho man's home?

One neighbor is asking that question after he was recently told by a homeowners association to remove a statue of a Catholic saint from his yard, years after he says he was given permission to put it up.

The man who owns the home, Bill Maldonado, says his small, roughly two foot tall Our Lady of Guadalupe statue has been in his front yard for nearly a decade.

But just last week, right before Easter, Maldonado says his Hidden Valley Homeowners Association told him he had two weeks to remove the statue.

Maldonado called it upsetting.

I was not very happy when I received the letter," said Maldonado. "And to make things even worse, it's Holy Thursday of Holy Week."

In their letter, Hidden Valley Homeowners Association called the unmounted statue an "Architectural Control" change, writing "statue not approved.""

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He says he has "my right for religious expression," and that it has been there since 2009.

California Has a Controversial Plan to Solve Its Housing Crisis. Drivers Aren’t Going to Like It. – Mother Jones

California Has a Controversial Plan to Solve Its Housing Crisis. Drivers Aren’t Going to Like It. – Mother Jones: "SB 827 would allow developers to bypass nearly all local zoning requirements within a half mile of a major transit stop, and build multi-family housing between four to eight stories high with no parking space requirements. (The state defines transit stops as a rail, ferry, or bus stop with two or more lines that run at least every 15 minutes.) “California is in a deep housing crisis—threatening our state’s environment, economy, diversity, and quality of life—and needs an enormous amount of additional housing at all income levels,” bill sponsor and California Democratic Sen. Scott Wiener said in a Medium post. Wiener believes that the legislation will promote the construction of more housing; bring down housing costs by increasing supply; and create communities that emit a smaller carbon footprint by relying less on cars. Transportation makes up roughly a quarter of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions and 39 percent of California’s."

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The idea is to do something about the insane cost of housing and the housing shortage in California while dealing with the environmental issues. The solution: let builders do whatever they want as long as it is within half a mile of a public transportation stop.

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Scott Pruitt’s $50-per-night condo looks really bad - The Washington Post

Scott Pruitt’s $50-per-night condo looks really bad - The Washington Post:

It just gets worse and worse. He was renting by the night at a ridiculous rate of $50 per night, and his benefactor is a lobbyist for the industries Pruitt is supposedly regulating. If Obama had appointed anybody who did this, that appointee would already have been fired or impeached.

EXCLUSIVE: Pruitt's EPA security broke down door to lobbyist condo - ABC News

EXCLUSIVE: Pruitt's EPA security broke down door to lobbyist condo - ABC News: "ABC News first reported Thursday that Pruitt had lived in the condo in 2017, during his first six months in Washington. The condo is in a prime location – less than a block from the U.S. Capitol complex – and other apartments in the building complex have rented for as much as $5,000-a-month, according to a source familiar with a neighboring lease.

The EPA allowed Bloomberg News to review copies of canceled checks that Pruitt paid to the condo owner. The news outlet reported that the checks show varying amounts paid on sporadic dates -- not a traditional monthly "rent payment" of the same amount each month, according to Bloomberg. In all, Pruitt paid $6,100 over six months to the limited liability corporation for the Capitol Hill condo co-owned by Vicki Hart, whose husband J. Steven Hart is chairman of a top D.C. lobbying firm and who is registered to lobby for several major environmental and energy concerns."

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Pruitt runs the Environmental Protection Agency, which he has hated for his entire professional career. He has been living in a luxury condo co-owned by the wife of an energy industry lobbyist. He has paid a total of $6100 in rent over six months. Market rate rent for six months would have been more like $30,000. I wonder what Trump voters who wanted to "drain the swamp" think of this. Probably fine with it.

Privatization is really a plan to dismantle Social Security

Privatization is really a plan to dismantle Social Security:



Of course it is. Many privatization plans are just ways of taking assets that were built, maintained, and paid for by the public, through tax dollars, and handing them over to private business corporations. Schemes like that are just legalized theft of public assets.

Santorum: Instead of calling for gun laws, kids should take CPR classes - CNNPolitics

Santorum: Instead of calling for gun laws, kids should take CPR classes - CNNPolitics:



"How about kids instead of looking to someone else to solve their problem, do something about maybe taking CPR classes or trying to deal with situations that when there is a violent shooter that you can actually respond to that," Santorum said. A former US Senator (R-Pennsylvania) says that ordinary people should not use collective action to pressure the government to change the laws and solve collective problems. Let that sink in, because this is what his party is all about these days. The government is there to do the bidding of the rich and powerful, who are exquisitely organized for that purpose. Ordinary people should stay out of politics and focus on their private lives. Never mind that their private lives are profoundly affected by the collective action of the rich and powerful.

Lamplight Village, update

Remember the HOA in Las Vegas, where a swing set collapsed and severely injured a 15 year old boy, and somehow a $2 million dollar demand was turned down, and then the jury returned was a $20 million dollar judgment against the HOA? The owners have been facing the spectre of paying something like $90,000 each to pay the excess judgment. But according to their Facebook page, all is well. And we know we can trust Facebook, right? :-)  So let's see what the newspapers have to say.

State will not ‘take over’ a condominium association or HOA

State will not ‘take over’ a condominium association or HOA: "Question: What is the legal standard for the state to intervene and take over an HOA? What is the procedure to initiate the state to investigate an HOA? —"

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The answer this attorney gives it basically, the state doesn't take over associations, but sometimes a court may appoint a receiver. The attorney mentions cases of fraud, but I think it is more often done if an association is falling apart and becoming nonfunctional, or if the BOD refuses to pay a court-ordered judgment.

Welcome to Zucktown. Where Everything Is Just Zucky. - The New York Times

Welcome to Zucktown. Where Everything Is Just Zucky. - The New York Times: "In just a few years, Facebook built a virtual community that linked more than two billion people, an achievement with few precedents. Now the social network is building a real community, the kind you can walk around. It is a project with many precedents in American history, quite a few of them cautionary tales about what happens when a powerful corporation takes control of civic life."

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Thanks to Fred Pilot for this link to the latest step in Facebook's efforts to take over the world. They've done a great job wrecking the entire concept of truth in our electoral system, so no doubt this community-builder stage in their world domination strategy will go equally well.

The Spread of 'Billionaire's Bay,' the Glut of Million-Dollar Homes Across San Francisco - CityLab

The Spread of 'Billionaire's Bay,' the Glut of Million-Dollar Homes Across San Francisco - CityLab: "Between 2012 and 2016, the percentage of $1 million+ homes in San Francisco grew a gobsmacking 37.8 percent, rising to represent 57.4 percent of the homes in the city.

In San Jose, 46.3 percent of homes now cost more than $1 million, an increase of 28.9 percent. And in Oakland, an astonishing 19.7 percent of homes hit seven figures in 2016, a growth of 14.5 percent since 2012. Oakland today boasts a higher percentage of $1 million+ homes than San Francisco did four years ago—a figure that ought to give Oakland residents pause."

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The California housing market has gone nuts, and nowhere is it crazier than in the San Francisco Bay area.

Washington D.C. Appellate Court Holds Foreclosure of Condominium Lien Extinguished First Mortgage Despite Condominium Association’s Representations to the Contrary - Lexology

Washington D.C. Appellate Court Holds Foreclosure of Condominium Lien Extinguished First Mortgage Despite Condominium Association’s Representations to the Contrary - Lexology: "The District of Columbia Court of Appeals recently held that a condominium’s foreclosure of a “super-priority” condominium lien extinguished an otherwise first-priority mortgage on the property, despite the fact that the association’s notice of sale and deed to the third-party purchaser stated that the sale was “subject to” the mortgage. See Liu v. U.S. Bank Nat’l Ass’n, 2018 WL 1095503 (D.C. Mar. 1, 2018)."

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This association superlien policy is controversial. In this case, I wonder if it will stand up to an appeal, because the association stated that the sale was "subject to" the first mortgage lien.

Nursing Home No More: The New Trend Is Aging With Your Friends

Nursing Home No More: The New Trend Is Aging With Your Friends:

This is about cohousing for seniors, which is an interesting alternative to seniors communities designed and run by large-scale developers and other mass-produced housing for retired people.  Contrary to what the article says, cohousing is not a "new trend." It has been around in Europe and the US since the 1980s, but it has not caught on in this country. It involves common ownership, but the residents set it up themselves and make their own rules.  The problem seems to be that it takes a lot of work and capital, and so far there haven't been many people willing or able to do it. It is much easier to respond to an ad about The Villages in Florida and walk into a turnkey, corporate-designed, large-scale seniors-only community with golf courses and swimming pools everywhere.

St. Boniface Church Is Resurrected as a New Condo Development | Chicago magazine | April 2018

St. Boniface Church Is Resurrected as a New Condo Development | Chicago magazine | April 2018: "In a nod to the church’s charitable history, Northwestern Settlement, a social services agency, plans to move its offices into the new building. The nonprofit’s space will include four affordable housing units.

Skoulsky says that it’s still too early to give a price range for the units in the main part of the development, Skoulsky says, though he does concede that, given the size, “the prices may push the neighborhood.” (The average condo in Noble Square now goes for $511,000, according to Redfin.) Better hope you find some pennies from heaven scattered on the sidewalk."



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This is a historic church that has been closed for several years. It will reopen as a high-end condo development. It's nice that there will be a social services agency there, and four units that are "affordable," but it is another example of trends in the housing market since the crash of 2008, where developers are interested in building for the rich.

Completion of Preparatory Work on Gated Communities Legislation Anticipated by 2019/20 - Jamaica Information Service

Completion of Preparatory Work on Gated Communities Legislation Anticipated by 2019/20 - Jamaica Information Service: "The proposed Act aims to address issues associated with town houses and gated communities that are not currently covered by legislation.

They include non-payment of maintenance fees, dispute resolution, violation of by-laws and other communal living arrangements.

Noting that the Act could, arguably, represent the last major piece of legislation required to streamline the entire real estate sector into “good order”, Dr. Chang said the consultations were timely.

This, he pointed out, against the background that “we are going to see more and more town houses, gated communities and expanded apartment complexes; so we need the appropriate legislation to ensure that properties are properly maintained and developed”."



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In Jamaica, as in so many other places, common interest housing is the way the housing market is going.

Man says battle with Olathe HOA proves need for proposed KS law | The Kansas City Star

Man says battle with Olathe HOA proves need for proposed KS law | The Kansas City Star: "Scott Wircenske’s eight-year battle with his HOA started with a simple request.

The Parkhill Manor Homes Association had just awarded a property management contract to one of its own board members, and the Olathe homeowner wanted to know whether the job had been put out for a bid.

“This man had been on the board in 2008 and then all of a sudden in 2009 he becomes the property manager, and he’s also a homeowner,” Wircenske said. “It smelled really bad. I wanted to know, ‘How did we arrive at this? How did we pick him?’ And basically, the response has been, ‘Go away and mind your own business.’ ”"

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This is a familiar story. Unregulated private government is a fertile ground for conflicts like this.

Oxberry pays HOA dues to get neighborhood support for luxury retail project - Houston Chronicle

Oxberry pays HOA dues to get neighborhood support for luxury retail project - Houston Chronicle:

Here you go, folks. Local democracy in action. Money for votes.



"Oxberry Group compensated nearly 200 residents in a deed-restricted neighborhood to approve plans for a high-end shopping center in the Tanglewood area.

The Houston developer donated $100,000 to the Briarcroft community association and paid one year’s worth of HOA dues — about $625 per household — to any Briarcroft homeowner who voted in favor of its Shops at Tanglewood project. It also held neighborhood meetings, sent informational mailers and knocked on doors to get signatures.

Sean Jamea, an Oxberry co-principal and an attorney, said there’s “nothing wrong” with swaying votes in this manner.

“It’s been happening in Florida for decades,” he said. “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with it. We wanted the Briarcroft neighborhood to prosper with us as we build this shopping center.”"

Getting Started – Choosing Between a Co-op and a Condo - The New York Times

Getting Started – Choosing Between a Co-op and a Condo - The New York Times:

If California gets serious about building more high-density housing (see my post below), they should consider housing cooperatives. New York City has more co-ops than condos. Chicago has lots of co-ops, including limited equity co-ops that remain affordable.

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"There is no question that there are more co-ops than condos in New York City, but the gap has been narrowing in recent decades. 'In Manhattan, it’s about 75 percent co-op versus 25 percent condo,' said Jonathan J. Miller, the president of the Miller Samuel appraisal firm. 'In the early 1990s, it was about 80/20, and in the mid-1980s it was 85/15.'”

In California, Momentum Builds for Radical Action on Housing - CityLab

In California, Momentum Builds for Radical Action on Housing - CityLab: "Cities around the world are dealing with severe housing shortages and inflated housing costs. But nowhere is housing such a potent political issue as in California, whose unique geography, state policies, and activist culture have combined with a poorly distributed economic boom to create a “perfect storm”—the chosen words of multiple sources for this story.

"

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This is what political scientists call a "policy window," a time when legislators are looking for solutions and there is an opportunity for interest groups who may have been ignored to get the ear of somebody looking for a bill to push.  Ideas that can be framed as solutions to the "housing crisis" will be considered. The most obvious problem is that owner-occupied housing in much of California, especially southern California and the San Francisco Bay area, is insanely expensive. Why? Many people say it is all about the law of supply and demand, and that the supply of housing is inadequate to meet the demand. The solution they propose is for cities to allow construction of more high-density housing. Cities are generally reluctant to do this, so State Senator Scott Weiner is proposing that the state should force cities to issue building permits for high-density construction near transit hubs. That would mean condominiums and apartment buildings. Condominiums are the go-to idea for legislators every time somebody proposes to make owner-occupied housing more affordable. But the problem is that we just found out the hard way, when the housing market tanked in 2006-2007, that selling condominium housing to people of moderate income is a  risky proposition.  I could go on about this, but I think I've made that point enough times for now.  However, that experience won't stand in the way of doing the same thing all over again, because when it comes to home ownership in this country, there is no mistake that we won't repeat.

You Care About the Subdivision Regulations, You Just Don't Know It (Yet) — Strong Towns

You Care About the Subdivision Regulations, You Just Don't Know It (Yet) — Strong Towns: "Basically, local subdivision regulations govern the division of land, which includes everything from a simple lot split to the creation of new neighborhoods from pastureland.  Among other things, they establish rules for the creation of lots, blocks and streets, and provide for the establishment of easements, parks, and public rights-of-way.

Making modest, intelligent changes to this document can have enormous impacts because new neighborhoods tend to be mass-produced at a large scale.  If your city hasn’t re-evaluated its subdivision regulations in a while, you’re probably still replicating bad ideas from the 1970’s — creating inflexible, and auto-centric places.  If this is the case, it's time for a change."

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Middle Class neighborhoods must be focus for some cities

Middle Class neighborhoods must be focus for some cities:

Interesting question--should cities focus on helping distressed neighborhoods, or strengthening middle class neighborhoods?

Can mass timber help California build its way out of the housing crisis? - Archpaper.com

Can mass timber help California build its way out of the housing crisis? - Archpaper.com:



Mass timber means using wood for the load-bearing structural components of buildings up to 18 stories high. California's housing costs are insanely high and there is a housing shortage. There aren't enough millionaires to buy the currently housing stock, apparently.  Thoughts are turning to high-rise, high density residential construction made of wood.

Ben Carson's housing agency drops pledge to end housing discrimination | US news | The Guardian

Ben Carson's housing agency drops pledge to end housing discrimination | US news | The Guardian: "The US housing department, helmed by the former neurosurgeon Ben Carson, has proposed a new mission statement in which the pledge to build “inclusive” communities “free from discrimination” is removed.

The proposal comes just two weeks after the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services changed its mission statement to eliminate a passage that described the US as “a nation of immigrants”."

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What's next? Maybe they will hang a sign around the Statue of Liberty that says "Whites Only."

Bills Affecting Community Associations | CAI Illinois

Bills Affecting Community Associations | CAI Illinois:
Here's one:
HB5744 (Rep. Drury) ATTORNEY FEE AWARDS TO UNIT OWNERS/ELIMINATION OF FEES IN DEMAND NOTICES. The bill amends Section 9.2 “Other remedies” of the Illinois Condominium Property Act. The bill would require that attorney’s fees incurred in sending and serving a collection demands under the Forcible Act be EXCLUDED from an owner’s assessment account. Additionally, contrary to most governing documents, the bill provides that if an owner is the “substantially prevailing party” in any litigation or arbitration (including a collection action) involving an association or its board, the court shall award that owner his or her attorney’s fees and costs. On February 16, 208 this bill was referred to Rules Committee. This bill is identical to HB3755 introduced in 2017 by Representative Drury.

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=5744&GAID=14&GA=100&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=111835&SessionID=91

'

Homeowners facing $20 million jury verdict over swing set that left boy disabled demand answers from Lamplight Village HOA - KTNV.com Las Vegas

Homeowners facing $20 million jury verdict over swing set that left boy disabled demand answers from Lamplight Village HOA - KTNV.com Las Vegas:

The association turned down a policy limits demand of $2 million and then lost the trial and got hit with a $20 million verdict. Guess who is liable to pay the debts of the association, including massive verdicts like this? The owners. And of course everybody is shocked to discover that this the way things work in a common interest community. I've been talking about this liability problem for a long time now, but every time it happens, people act surprised. 

Creekside Golf Club owners sue HOA board for reserve fund spending

Creekside Golf Club owners sue HOA board for reserve fund spending

"Creekside Golf Club’s owners have asked a judge to remove the board of an adjacent homeowners association and put the HOA into receivership. It’s the latest volley in a two-year legal battle that will decide whether the club’s owners, developers Larry Tokarski and Terry Kelly, can close the South Salem championship course and turn it into a residential subdivision. The developers say the six members of the Creekside Homeowners Association Board, all of whom own golf course-view homes, illegally used the association’s reserve account to pay for an April 2016 lawsuit alleging the course must remain open indefinitely. That bankrupted the association, raising monthly assessments for the many homeowners whose property values would not be affected by the course’s closure, the lawsuit alleges."

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I haven't looked up any of the pleadings, but this looks like an unusual situation. The golf course owners seem to be claiming there is no contractual or property rights connection between the golf course and the residential properties, so they can turn the course into a subdivision if they want to.  But the HOA said that buyers were promised in their original covenants that there would be a golf course next door.  Deborah Goonan did a long post on HOA conflicts involving golf courses that mentions this case and others.

Autonomous Vehicles Are Coming, and California Isn’t Ready – Streetsblog California

Autonomous Vehicles Are Coming, and California Isn’t Ready – Streetsblog California

"Reynolds, testifying to the committee, said that as currently worded the federal act would prohibit states and cities from adopting, maintaining, or enforcing “any rules or standards regulating the design, construction, or performance of AV systems with respect to safety, data recording, cybersecurity, human-machine interface, crash-worthiness, post-crash behavior, or automation function.” It would also prohibit states from promulgating any rules on any other issue regarding AVs, including requiring any of them to be electric or subjecting them to VMT fees. It would nullify S.B. 1298, which in 2012 called for the California Department of Motor Vehicles to create safety rules for testing AVs in the state, and it could potentially nullify the rules that resulted from that law as well as prevent the DMV from updating them—although they sorely need updating, and the DMV is in the process of doing so. The act, said Reynolds, “jeopardizes the state’s ability to regulate safety, congestion, and environmental benefits of AVs. Preemption is a feature, not a bug.”

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The rest of the developed world is enjoying high-speed rail, and we are dithering while trains go off the tracks, bridges teeter on the edge of collapse, and we have a multi-trillion dollar deficit in just fixing the infrastructure we already have. The rest of the developed word is planning cities around a (very near) future of electric, self-driving, shared vehicles, with homes powered by solar energy. We are under the boot of a federal government that is bought and paid for by big oil.

What's Missing From the Housing Recovery? New Condos | realtor.com®

What's Missing From the Housing Recovery? New Condos | realtor.com®: "With the last financial crisis now firmly in the rearview mirror, builders are swinging their hammers again and putting up sorely needed new homes. But something’s missing amid all the scaffolding: condos.

Their absence is already being felt by first-time and cash-strapped buyers contending with record-high home prices thanks to the lack of properties on the market. Condos, which are often more affordable than traditional single-family houses with backyards, may seem like a solution. But builders are shying away from putting them up, even in urban areas, where they're often the most concentrated. Why?"

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To put it bluntly, the answer is because growing income inequality makes it more attractive to build luxury homes for rich people, and because building cheap condos leads to construction defect litigation.

Roads to nowhere: how infrastructure built on American inequality | Cities | The Guardian

Roads to nowhere: how infrastructure built on American inequality | Cities | The Guardian:



'via Blog this'

Trump administration wants to sell National and Dulles airports, other assets across U.S. - The Washington Post

Trump administration wants to sell National and Dulles airports, other assets across U.S. - The Washington Post:



This kind of privatization amounts to selling off valuable public assets to rich investors. Trump and his cronies are strip-mining the public sector. Public lands and public infrastructure are set to be plundered by the 1%. Anything that can turn a profit will be lost to the public and converted to private ownership, put under a long-term lease, or subject to private extraction rights for mining, grazing, logging, etc.