by Ed Ryan
You may have noticed I'm not a fan of H.O.A.'s or C.D.D.'s. They are just another layer of government in an already over-layered government-heavy society. People get things done, not governments. The last time I was critical of an H.O.A. I got into a war of words with Paul Wingard who was the H.O.A. President from Waterford Village at the time. It was many moons ago, June 2008 to be exact, and it was over this story that I wrote about my own issue in Pinecrest.
Actually, that fence story was one of the main reasons I started the Gazette. It started as an outlet for me and others to let steam off about the nazi tactics of H.O.A.'s and management companies. And as you know the Gazette has grown into one of the most well-read and highly-respected newsletters and now website throughout Southwest Florida and probably the entire Eastern Seaboard.
In fact, that fence story is what started my never-ending grudge-holding feud with El Presidente Bob Nielson. The fence story irked him so much he twice tried to get the full board of supervisors to kick me off the park committee. Unfortunately for him that was when sanity ruled the day, when Pete Doragh was the chairman, and his attempts, like many of his ideas, failed. Since then chairman Bobby has produced one political debacle after another, which, of course, we've documented relentlessly and joyfully. And, we will do repeatedly, and with much pleasure, if he decides to run again this year.
But this story is not about Bobby. This story brings me back to my roots, to where it all began, to my distrust of H.O.A's and management companies. Really, this brings me back to the hatchling of all my original anger. This story is about a community H.O.A. and its management company hell-bent on pissing people off, nit-picking them on any meaningless item they can find to put on a violation slip. And, so you know, H.O.A.'s are not subject to sunshine laws like other government agencies are which is another joke. It's called justifying your existence. For our latest adventure we travel back to my new favorite H.O.A. Stoneybrook where this Violation was issued to a resident who had been out of town for a week on work assignment.
As I wrote 2 years ago, and it's still true today, these are the types of things that weaken a community not strengthen it. They think they are keeping a community clean when, in reality, they are really just getting their power-jollies. It leads to residents hating board members and despising a management company. It gives too much power to someone, someone unwilling to identify himself or deal with any objection a resident might have to their petty violation. Let me be more specific.
This citation writer had nothing better to do than visit homes on a Monday and look for weeds in the mulch of Stoneybrook residents. Weeds in the mulch. Are you people serious? You threaten the guy with loss of amenities for having weeds in his mulch and a palm frond laying on the ground. Amenities he is paying for because he happens to be one of the homes NOT in foreclosure. Did you make any attempt to talk to the guy? No, of course not. Because most people would laugh at you when you tell them they had weeds in their mulch. I would laugh at you. Who wouldn't. It's idiotic. If you wanted to be a good neighbor why didn't you just pick up the pond frond and leave him a note? Because it's more powerful to write a citation, that's why. You put your pen back in your pocket, your chest all pumped up now that you've flexed you H.O.A muscle.
You write on his violation 14/3, which makes no sense to him. It doesn't make any sense at all. Nobody signs the violation so he has no idea who wrote it and nobody answers the telephone at Alliant Property Management so he has no way to lodge a protest or ask what 14/3 means. Not that anyone at Alliant - or any management company - would listen to a commoner protesting. That's what I call solid community togetherness. You should all take a lesson from Sue Doiron, the President of the H.O.A. in Cypress Cay. Every once in a while you just need to use common sense, like she does, and say let these people live their lives.
H.O.A.'s are not of the ilk that believe in limited government. By its very nature it is intrusive government. This example is just another case of H.O.A.'s going overboard and another reason why they should all be abolished. There are hundreds of websites that have popped up regarding H.O.A.s that steam-roll residents. Most of these people are just trying to make it from paycheck to paycheck and here you come with your infantile mulch violation that just pegs their stress meter.
In my own community residents are now having an open discussion about ways to reduce cable, landscaping and management company costs. We are not talking about why this guy has weeds or that guy has an over-grown tree. We are all out there, every weekend, trying to make our homes look nicer so that someday they may have some value. And I believe most residents are doing the same. I believe our management company is a waste of taxpayer money. It's probably an argument I am not going to win but at least we are discussing it. It makes you wonder how neighborhoods and communities existed for so may years without the existence of these companies. Maybe there were no weeds back then.
Some H.O.A.s are simply people without jobs or retired, given too much power, with nothing better to do than walk around and nit-pick. Despite what they think, people want their homes to look good. People want their homes and yards to last long. For H.O.A's in any community to think they are doing the right thing by writing these petty violations, get over yourselves and leave the residents alone. It's a waste of time, a waste of money and it makes people want to resist not co-operate. This isn't a dirty roof or a house painted purple or an ugly work vehicle parked in the road, it's weeds in the mulch. Get real. Get over yourselves. Leave the people alone.
