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An Article
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Building a Network of Neighbors
November 06, 2004
By
Rebecca R. Kahlenberg
(View author info)
Copyright Washington Post
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Rebecca, you might want to just stick to writing about marital relations and graduations:
Could it be u?
What to get the graduate - 06/01/02
... such as a heart-felt letter. Rebecca R. Kahlenberg is a Maryland-based free-lance writer. Nic Aulston chats with a friend ...
www.detnews.com/2002/homelife/0206/05/d01-503660.htm - 37k - Cached - Similar pages
Hardwired to Connect/Wedding Industry/Bridal Fairs/Gift ...
... Rebecca Kahlenberg, a freelance writer on assignment for The ... live in the Baltimore-Washington region to ... a Falls Church, Va., free-lance television producer ...
archives.his.com/smartmarriages/ 2004-January/msg00032.html - 26k - Cached - Similar pages
Posted Nov 18 2004 5:31AM CET
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Username withheld
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A community run by a Homeowner's Association is no place for anyone wanting friendly place to live. They will find that a few greedy, corrupt, and power-hungry individuals have more control over their lives than they could have imagined. They'll see their basic property rights trampled, their dues being squandered, and their neighbors turn against them, while their anger and frustration mounts.
The board controls the "media", the local newsletters that go out to homeowners, or the "community" web site, sometimes even a local TV channel. Some large HOAs have their own fire, rescue, and police departments – paid for with homeowner assessments. If a homeowner angers the board in some way, they may get a visit from the friendly neighborhood cop, who gets paid by the all-powerful HOA Board. It happened to us.
Last year, the Wintergreen Police department (who, incidentally, are "real cops", and have the power to arrest us, or shoot us, if necessary), personally hand-delivered covenant "violation" notices in 2 occasions, to us at our home. We chose not to comply with the demands of the HOA.
The police came back out, parked their squad car conspicuously in front of our property, and started taking pictures, even walking onto our property to get the best view. Sound intimidating? It's probably a very effective way to get the average mild-mannered homeowner to submit to the pressure. For the most part, it works.
Comply, or face public humiliation, slander, threats, and lawsuits. Any contracts or rights you thought you had, aren't worth the paper they're written on. If you think the law's on your side, you'll be surprised to find out that it probably isn't. The state laws, through the efforts of special interest groups, generally favor Homeowners Associations, and give them lots of power.
Only the meek survive, living in a HOA. They pay the assessment increases (and they better be on time), comply with every whim coming from the board, ignore the ill will from neighbors, and try to think about how nice the neighborhood looks. They don't make waves because they just don't have the time, money or the conviction to fight a long, bitter conflict. Better just be quiet and take it.
We've got the color-coded vehicle registration decals, property owner ID cards, compliance inspectors (some of whom are the neighborhood ), surveillance systems and gate guards. The only things missing are the razor wire, and the tattoos on our forearms.
Posted Nov 15 2004 3:20AM CET
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Hilary Day
(View Profile)
Nellysford, Virginia |
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Remember folks, the media answers to their advertising dollars. They stand to lose millions of dollars if they dis' too many realtors, builders, contractors, etc. Just take a look at any Sunday paper. Full of adverti$ement$ for home$ for $ale. This translates into bias.
Homeowner advocates work hard to get major media publications to publish the hard core facts of the increased financial risk and liabilities associated with HOA housing.
Not only that, many people are "living", if you can call it that, in HOA housing. One editor had commented "but I live in a condo and I wouldn't want my property values to drop", when asked to do more in depth reporting about HOA's.
That is why it is very important for the homeowners to create their own news and write and publish their own stories. fuhgeddabout the corporate newspapers.
AHRC is a good place to start. Last we heard AHRC was getting over 2 million hits per month and steadily increasing. It's a grassroots effort. Nobody is making millions being a homeowner advocate.
Homeowner advocates answer to nobody and no money.
Posted Nov 13 2004 6:25AM CET
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Username withheld
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The title of the article about homeowners associations published in the Washington Pest (Building a Network of Neighbors, November 6, 2004 by, Rebecca R. Kahlenberg), SHOULD have been titled:
"BUILDING A NETWORTH OFF NEIGHBORS"
P. Flamingo '04
Posted Nov 13 2004 6:10AM CET
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Username withheld
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Letter to the Editor:
There is only one deserved response to this spin, er, "news":
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!! Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!! HA! HA!
Talk about being in the pocket of the Homeowner Association industry.
Sincerely,
A.R.R.
California Homeowner Advocate
Posted Nov 12 2004 11:37PM CET
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Username withheld
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Mr. Paul D. Grucza, president of the Community Associations Institute must think Americans are stupid.
These associations do little to bring neighbors together, In fact, they are instrumental in causing huge disruptions between neighbors.
These organizations have got to go!!!
Posted Nov 12 2004 11:14PM CET
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Jack Mader
, Texas |
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It really kills me when I see people wanting to : TELL THE MEDIA MY HOA SUCKS!!!
Guess what people?! WHO WANTS TO BUY YOUR PROPERTY WHEN YOU STATE THAT?!!!
Posted Nov 12 2004 10:29PM CET
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Terry Pollime
(View Profile)
, Alabama |
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I was under the impression The Washington Post was a highly respected newspaper.
How could they publish such an outrageous, biased "fairy tale", and refer to it as a, "news article"?
Does The Washington Post really pay people to write this kind of propaganda? Where is responsible journalism?
If Ms. Kahlemberg is going to continue to write for The Washington Post, writing fiction, from Mars, might be a better use of her talents.
Posted Nov 12 2004 7:14PM CET
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Username withheld
, Pennsylvania |
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Oh Rebecca, give me a break! Did some CAI attorney shmooze you, take you out to lunch, and fill your head full of dribble?
Where's your bull-shit meter? Reporters should be looking beyond the chit-chat to uncover the real facts.
Here's an idea. Check the county courthouse. Find the people who are being sued by their homeowner's association. Go ask them how they like their HOA. Oh, they're the trouble-makers? Well then, pick a nice, big community and start going door-to-door. Leave your email address with them and have them contact you after they think things over, and remember some of the xxxx they've had to deal with from their HOA.
That will get you closer to the truth - what it's like living under the scrutiny of your neighbors and the rule of a homeowers association.
Posted Nov 12 2004 6:48PM CET
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Username withheld
Nellysford, Virginia |
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The more apt title would be "Building a Network for Realtors and Foreclosures".
This article is nothing more than an advertorial mislabeled "News"
Posted Nov 12 2004 5:50PM CET
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Username withheld
San Juan Capistrano, California |
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