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Information about Assembly Member John Laird - California State Assembly Assembly Member John Laird - California State Assembly State Capitol - P.O. Box 942849 Sacramento, California 98249-0027 Phone: (916) 319-2027     Fax: (916) 319-2127 http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a27/ Trademember: Anti-homeowner Rank: No ranking. Summary: LAIRD'S FORECLOSURE LAIR - Homeowners in Homeowner Associations Object to AB 2718To get this bill passed for the realtors and lawyers, John Laird and his legislative director Clyde MacDonald misrepresented that AB 2715 would not create liens on homes. Other Information: See related articles and letters for more information. * Bonny Hawley, Chief-of-Staff * Clyde Macdonald, Chief Consultant * David van der Griff, Senior Assistant * Irene Villarruz, Scheduler * Michael Endicott, Chief Consultant, Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee * Joanne Wong, Consultant, Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee * Linda Rodriguez, Committee Secretary Allison Endert - District director - Santa Cruz Clyde MacDonald - Legislative Director- (916)319-2451

5. Have Clyde MacDonald and Assemblymember John Laird duped California lawmakers and created a lien bill for homeowners?     Clyde MacDonald the legislative director of Assemblymember John Laird called on August 10, 2004. He said he was "faxing information that would clarify" if AB 2718 would create liens on homeowners. John Laird wrote AB 2718 to help the realtors sell houses . To get the lawyers and managers to support the bill, Laird and MacDonald also wrote into the bill that both could charge unlimited copying costs. Several analysts said AB 2718 would allow the lawyers and managers to record liens on the homeowners properties for late or non-payment of the copying costs and a lawyer from the California Legislative Counsel had promised several weeks ago she would be providing her opinion to Clyde MacDonald and John Laird. When I asked MacDonald if he would send us the opinion he said he wanted to "do that as a last resort" and asked we "take a look at what I send" as that would "clarify the lien concerns." He sent three letters of support for AB 2718 from three Sacramento: based lobbyists: • Betty Perry - Older Women's League of California • Jack Fox Ruby - California Alliance for Retired Americans • Joan B. Lee - Gray Panthers Clyde MacDonald again has not clarified the lien question to either the lawmakers or the homeowners. Follow up calls to him and Laird's staff were not returned. The Senate desk informed us that AB 2718 is scheduled to be heard on the Senate Floor at 10:30am tomorrorw - August 13, 2004. This is the last vote on the bill in the legislature before it goies to the governor's desk. If AB 2718 does create liens, Laird, MacDonald will have duped the legislators, media and public to pass a law that will create more liens and foreclosures in homeowner associations. Foreclosures have been bringing millions to realtors, lawyers, managers ....and of course to politicians like Laird who , while on public payroll, work for private interests who stock their bank accounts. Posted Aug 12 2004 5:53AM CEST     Username withheld , California   4. Assembly Member John Laird - California State Assembly     Subject: RE: Please send AB 2718 to the Legislative Counsel for opinion The following communication was generated through the AHRC interactive website. Elizabeth: I'm sorry that I couldn't return your call today. I had about three times as many calls than I could return. I am aware that Legislative Counsel has talked to you. I will talk to Counsel. You might look on the WEB at the Senate Judicary Committee analysis of the bill regarding fees and the relationship to liens. Clyde MacDonanld Legislative Director For California Assemblyman John Laird Posted Jun 29 2004 5:43AM CEST     Username withheld , California   3. John Laird legislates another way for lawyers and managers to lien homes     Assemblymember John Laird and his chief of staff Clyde MacDonald have been busy writing a law to help realtors sell more homes. They are also writing into law to give unlimited copying costs to CAI and ECHO lawyers and CACM managers so they will support the bill as well. The realtors lobby want homeowners to pay for a financial summary of the budget and reserves. Why a summary? Because the real estate salesmen want simple ad format financial information on homes they sell so they can sell homes more easily. Their pitch - "the homeowners don't understand budget and financial information they already receive and a simple two page summary will help them understand." MacDonald craftily delayed opposition from homeowners by telling them to send in amendment requests which they would take in committee hearings AFTER the Assembly voted on the bill. Once he got the Assembly votes, Clyde McDonald informed homeowners they will not make any of the amendments the homeowner advocate groups requested. The only people supporting AB 2718 are realtors, lawyers and managers. Homeowner advoctates are opposing the bill. Posted Jun 16 2004 6:53PM CEST     Username withheld , California   2. Go one step further and require disclosure of the HOA fees     If the main intent of Assembly Member John Laird's bill AB2718 is to disclose the Reserve Status to members and buyers that is indeed beneficial to buyers of these HOA properties. I would go one step further and require disclosure of the HOA fees in ALL For Sale ads. Management companies should be required to have e-versions of the CC&R's, By-Laws, Current Financial Statements and Reserve Statements of each HOA they manage on line and available to all members of the buying public in order that they may make an informed decision when they purchase a property in a HOA. This would also be a control for Board Members and Management Companies who are less than honest or competent to do a better and more honest job. Posted May 31 2004 4:28PM CEST     Pat English Mission Viejo, California   1. Committees Laird is on     * Member, Budget Subcommittee 1: Health & Human Service * Member, Committee on Budget * Member, Committee on Judiciary * Member, Committee on Labor and Employment * Member, Committee on Natural Resources * Member, Committee on Public Employees, Retirement and Social Security * Member, Committee on Revenue and Taxation Posted Apr 13 2004 10:20PM CEST     Username withheld San Juan Capistrano, California

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