DELRAY ALLIANCE A LOOK AT THEIR "LEADERSHIP"? |
An
Opinion By Jan Bergemann Published March 10, 2008 The House Select Committee on Condominium and Homeowners Association Governance listened at their Pembroke Pines meeting to the presentation of Richard Herman, vice president of the Delray Alliance. At the meeting he was accompanied by Robert Schulbaum, president of the Alliance, and Barbara Zee, another vice president. That was the whole official delegation of the Alliance, despite the fact that Robert Schulbaum had announced in a Sun Sentinel article that the Delray Alliance would hire a bus to drive all the interested Alliance members to this meeting. Herman used as well the old claim that the Alliance represents all the owners living within the associations they claim are part of the Delray Alliance. When will these self-appointed leaders finally acknowledge that most of these owners don't even know that this Alliance exists, much less empowers them to speak on their behalf -- or allowed them to claim to represent them? I'm very sure that there were more folks at the meeting complaining about the problems in the "ALLIANCE ASSOCIATIONS" than there were members feeling like Richard Herman. Actually, his e-mail after the meeting showed that he must be wearing blinders in order not to see the many problems owners living in associations are facing. Actually, it was Herman's e-mail that caused "CAN-leader Donna Berger" to send out one of her infamous e-mails, ranting and raving about these bad homeowners' activists from CCFJ who want to destroy the lifestyle of millions of good Floridians! (Please see: DONNA BERGER -- RANTING AGAIN) Herman's presentation contained the same old stories we have heard for many years from the same board members who support the specialized attorneys whose only interest is to create more billable hours.
Many people have been looking into the really important question: Why are these board members so adamant against provisions that would create protection against abuse, fair elections, accountability of the people in charge, and punishment of the violators? I guess you have to look directly at the people who speak out against these legislative reforms. Isn't it amazing that you never hear any arguments against these reforms from the many good board members who try their best to run their associations according to the rules? But certain board members are very outspoken against owner-friendly reforms and are obviously working with the same attorneys who are against reforms for financial reasons! They are even using association dues to finance lobbying against owner-friendly reforms -- mostly without the knowledge of the owners, whose dues they are using to promote their private agendas. Actually, using association funds for lobbying purposes is as well a clear violation! The Delray Alliance, under the "leadership" of President Robert Schulbaum, has always been a strong supporter of the interests of these specialized attorneys. WHY? Obviously quite a few of their leadership team members need legal protection, considering some of the ongoing shenanigans they cause in their associations. Robert Schulbaum and Barbara Zee are board members of the VIZCAYA NEIGHBORHOOD PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC. in Delray Beach. This board found a new source of income: Fining owners for speeding! Their proof according to the fining letter (quote): "We have received written complaint that your sedan was seen speeding down Michelangelo Blvd. at about 50 miles per hour." "Was seen speeding" is enough proof, minimum for these kind of board members. The follow-up letter stated: "Therefore the board of directors has voted to impose a fine of $50 and to suspend your rights to the Clubhouse and the automatic gate entry system for a period of 15 days. This suspension will include all facilities, included, but not limited to the 6 tennis courts, pool area, entrance and use of the Clubhouse. The fine of $50 should be made out to the Vizcaya P.O.A. and must be received by February 15, 2008. Please note that the failure to obey this suspension will result in an additional Violation." It seems to be a great way to blackmail people and make some extra bucks. The board of the LEE'S CROSSING-DELRAY BEACH HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC. followed suit and is trying as well to hand out "speeding tickets." Not even our official law enforcement agencies are allowed to hand out speeding tickets based on an "observation." Getting back to Richard Herman, who told the members of the Select Committee that "Buying into a community is a contract!" I haven't seen a contract (original deed restrictions) that allows a board of directors to hand out speeding tickets based on "observation." These are the kind of power-hungry board members that caused many
owners to attend the meetings of the Select Committee and testify about
the many abuses we see daily in our associations.
And the attorneys, supported by these abusive directors, still sound like a broken record: "Only a few disgruntled owners are whining!" |