LAWMAKERS, IT'S WAY PAST TIME TO VOTE ON BEHALF OF HOMEOWNERS!

August 18, 2005

By Pat March

CALIFORNIANS - LET YOUR SENATORS, ASSEMBLY MEMBERS AND THE GOVERNOR KNOW THAT THEIR VOTES FOR HOMEOWNERS RIGHTS WILL MEAN VOTES FOR THEM

Now is the time to let our voices be heard. We need to let our legislators know that we are no longer going to stand by and continue accepting the abuse from the "special interest groups" that rob us of our dignity, our constitutional rights, our resources, and in some cases our homes.

Unfortunately, and always a threat, the predators such as the CAI attorneys, CACM management companies, and ECHO can be seen hanging out at the Capital lobbying against any fairness and for allowing any rights for homeowners living in Common Interest Developments. There have been some good bills written in favor of homeowners, but after the "special interests groups" get to the legislators the bills either go away or are watered down to the point of having very little, if any, impact.

The reputation of the "special interests groups" has now surfaced and it is they and the actions of abusive board members who will eventually bring down our property values. After all, it is they who have the powers to foreclose on our properties for a mere $120 and completely drain our resources in the process. It is they who have the power to increase our dues by 20% a year whether the increase is needed or not. It is also they who rig our elections insuring that the same unscrupulous board members are re-elected time and again.

These special interests groups continually attempt to squelch any possibilities of losing their manipulative control of homeowners associations, including elections, compliance issues, access to financial records, and the brain washing of naive board members. These greedy groups drain us of our resources without even flinching, and the only real interests they have in mind is their own.

We must reverse the mind-set. It is NOT the homeowners who are causing the serious problems in CID's but rather the "special interests groups" and unscrupulous board members. Homeowners have been intimidated into thinking that if they complain or speak out they will be considered trouble makers and that their neighbors will not like them, that there will be some kind of retribution and their property values may decrease.

Beth Grimm, an attorney and member of CAI and CLAC writes in a recent article that she authored for CLACTRAC: "We may have to mount the major campaign this year too, before the legislative year ends in September. We are dealing with some very invasive legislation."

Are the "special interests groups" finally feeling the pressure? Is this the year that homeowners living in CID's will finally be the recipients of fair and meaningful legislation? Have our lawmakers learned enough about our problems and decided that they too are no longer willing to be intimidated by the special interest groups? California homeowners must also mount a major campaign and fight for their rights.

It's time to wage an all out effort to once and for all get what we so rightfully deserve. We need to publicly protest in our towns, cities and the Capital. Initiate petitions and gather signatures in our communities. We need to let our voices be heard by contacting our local news media (radio, TV, and newspapers) and tell them of the problems that are going on in Common Interest Developments. In other words, whatever it takes to get the word out. This will also be a way to educate vulnerable and apathetic homeowners who have no way of knowing until it is too late that they are being foreclosed on or assessed with unaffordable dues increases and/or special assessments,

On August 15th the California State Assembly and Senate will return from recess, and sometime before the legislative year ends in September will vote FOR or AGAINST some very important bills that, if passed, will help homeowners living in CID's in a positive way.

PLEASE DON'T WAIT! Call now or write to your Senators, and Assembly members and ask them to SUPPORT SB 61 (Battin- Elections), SB186 (Battin-Elections), AB1098 (Jones-Elections and Records Inspection), SB137 (Ducheny-Collections and Lien Process). Tell them that their votes for homeowner's rights will mean votes for them. You can read these bills and find your legislators addresses via the California website: leginfo.ca.gov