COALITION OF COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS (COCA)

THE OPPOSITION OF POWER-HUNGRY BOARD MEMBERS

An Opinion By Jan Bergemann 
President, Cyber Citizens For Justice, Inc. 

June 1, 2006

In 2004 Governor Jeb Bush’s HOA Task Force had initiated certain provision to protect owners from abuses by board members and attorneys.  But when CAI and OCHA failed to convince legislators to remove these owner-friendly provisions, the notorious Richard Spears founded COCA.  COCA is another lobbying group supported by the very same people who are part of CAI, CALL and OCHA. 

Maybe COCA better change its statement to reflect the truth?  

On his website Spears quotes Thomas Jefferson: "That government is best which governs the least, because its people discipline themselves."  I don't think Thomas Jefferson meant to promote liens and foreclosures without due process dished out by kangaroo courts without accountability?

That is exactly what Spears and some of his ilk had in mind during the 2005 and 2006 legislative sessions.  Spears and his cohorts had one main goal:  To push for reinstatement of liens and foreclosures for fines.   As we know, the outrageous liens and foreclosures for fines are a much-abused method to help board members subdue owners who are critical of the board’s shoddy ways of doing business.  If you speak up, you risk having your home grabbed from you!

Statement on the website: COCA AIMS FOR HARMONY IN NEIGHBORHOODS! 
Isn't it ironic that most of the people who support COCA are known in their communities as characters that promote disharmony, discord and disagreements?  Maybe COCA better change its statement to reflect the truth?

Suggestion:  COCA AIMS FOR YOUR WALLET BUT WILL TAKE YOUR HOME!

And Spears uses the old trick he must have learned during his time as a CAI executive:  Use numbers, no matter where you dig them up!  Quote: "It is estimated that nearly 2,000,000 residents live under our collective umbrellas."  Spears must be confused, because he forgets to mention that the wide majority of these people don't even want to deal with him or his goals!

What COCA tries to achieve is called OLIGARCHY – explained as: 

“A small group of people who control an organization, often for their own purposes”!

ARTICLES

• DREAM ON , Mr. Spears! In defense of HOA boards? (08-08-2006)

• TRYING TO CREATE AN OLIGARCHY? (12-26-2005)

• Combatants raise stakes in suburb wars (12-26-2005)

• Statewide condo alliance taking agenda to Tallahassee (12-25-2005)

• Civic Leaders -- or More Community Associations Institute? (05-25-2005)

• Homeowner leaders fight consumer group on association laws (05-23-2005)

• ANOTHER FOX GUARDING THE HEN HOUSE (04-20-2004)