April 26, 2013

By Rob Jenkins

The buzziest buzzword in education these days is “bullying.” Teachers and administrators constantly regale kids with anti-bullying mandates, speeches and slogans. Actually, to say that they “regale kids” might be an understatement. In some cases, school officials essentially bully students into not “bullying,” as they define it. That’s something I’ve observed firsthand–a story, perhaps, for another time. My point is that some of our worst bullies these days are not young children or even teenagers but rather adults who should know better. And this is true not only in our schools but in every walk of life. Give certain people a little bit of power, and they’re apt to exercise it unjustly. Ironically, that tends to be especially true in situations where the stakes aren’t particularly high — like a neighborhood homeowners’ association. In my experience, few organizations offer more or better opportunities for people to bully others, if they’re so inclined.  Read more:

April 24, 2013

By Evan McKenzie

George Staropoli poses this excellent question, and the answer he got from Nevada congressman Joe Heck (R-Henderson and much of Clark County) shows little understanding of the situation:
“I can certainly understand and appreciate your frustrations. Since HOAs are governed by local or state law rather than federal, it would be best to contact your state assemblyman or state senator and local county officials with your comments.”

The fact is that the federal government has been heavily involved in promoting common interest housing since the 1960s, as I explained in detail in my first book, PRIVATOPIA, on this subject way back in 1994.  Hasn’t he ever heard of the FHA or Fannie Mae?  It is just another example of how determined public officials at every level of government are to wash their hands of any responsibility for HOAs and condo associations.  The problems are so enormous, and so many people are profiting from those problems, that it becomes almost impossible to get anybody to do anything until there is a complete disaster. The Las Vegas HOA corruption ring is one example of that.  Read:

by Jay Root

April 9, 2013

A bill aimed at making nonprofit homeowners associations more financially accountable and transparent pitted homeowner activists against people representing for-profit HOA contractors on Tuesday. House Bill 3803, by state Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon, D-San Antonio, would require homeowners associations, which have government-like powers to levy assessments and foreclose on homes, to better safeguard the money they collect for the common good of the neighborhood.

And it would for the first time introduce state oversight of HOAs — an elusive goal of Texas homeowner activist groups. The legislation would allow the attorney general to investigate breaches of fiduciary responsibility by board members and levy penalties of up to $20,000 per violation. That would go up to $250,000 if the violation was intended to harm an elderly Texan. Read more:

By Anita Hassan

April 3, 2013

Lawbreaking motorists are not tolerated by the Copperfield Coalition. The watchdog group is committed to public safety and believes speeding and running through stop signs in its northwest Harris County community must end. As president of the coalition, Anthony Cecala has been on the front lines of those safety efforts. Lately, however, some believe Cecala may have approached that crime-fighting zeal with too much gusto.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Neighborhood-activist-charged-with-assault-4401396.php#ixzz2POflyhnx

By John W. Davis, Reporter Sunday, March 31, 2013,

 

Officer.com:  N.C. Standoff Ends With Suspect, Two Others Dead; Victims were on HOA Board

Cameron Steele
Source: The Charlotte Observer Created: March 30, 2013

A six-hour SWAT team standoff ended late Friday with a suspected shooter and two of his neighbors dead

HARRISBURG, N.C. — A six-hour SWAT team standoff ended late Friday with a suspected shooter and two of his neighbors dead, police say.

A Cabarrus County sheriff’s official said the suspect apparently shot himself as deputies and SWAT team members surrounded the house where he was hiding. Earlier Friday, the suspect shot and killed two others, police say, in what they described as a neighborhood dispute.

Neighbors said the suspect was angry about pine trees that were cut down behind his house and that the victims were on the homeowners association board that ordered the trees removed.  Read more:

March 27, 2013

By Cindy George

Charles Babineaux, whose tug-of-war with his Harris County HOA was the subject of the Chronicle’s March 16 Houston Advocate story, learned this week that he can keep his security door.

According to a letter from the Brunswick Meadows Homeowners Association, the board of directors voted to allow any security door that was installed prior to July 1, 2010, which was the date AMI Houston took over HOA management.  Read more: