Dear Florida Homeowners and Condo-owners,

There is a long way to go to achieve the final goal of creating the protection homeowners and condo-owners in Florida need and deserve.  Even more so since the Florida legislature in the 2009 legislative session failed to pass one single bill to solve the many problems owners are facing in community associations. This is unbelievable -- considering the daily headlines in the media.  

The economy and the bad real estate market finally delivered the proof for what we had claimed all along: Community associations are NOT protecting property values!

This claim was just a sales gimmick to lure families into buying into these communities. So was the so-called safety claim that gated communities provide more security! That was just another fairy tale.

Developers go bankrupt, dragging families into a financial chaos, making them lose their life savings. The mistake of the homeowners? They bought a home at the wrong place at the wrong time. And despite paying all their bills on time, they end up bankrupt and without a home due to the fact that our government officials would rather protect the guilty parties!

Associations go bankrupt, dragging down owners who always paid their dues. This is caused by many homes and units in foreclosure, owners not paying their dues or homes that are just plain empty. In many associations the financially responsible owners can't make up for the budget deficits and lose their homes as well when association bills are not paid and utility companies cut off services.

Lured to Florida with the false advertising claim of "Carefree Living in the Sunshine," retired folks can't keep up with the steady increase of association dues – not to mention all the special assessments levied -- and lose their homes to foreclosure!

OUR SOCIETY SHOULD BE ASHAMED!

During the 2009 legislative session Florida 's legislators were more interested in protecting the banking industry than their constituents. Obviously, it doesn't matter to the legislators that many families lose their homes and life savings, as long as special interest is protected. Don't forget, it was the banks and the mortgage industry that got us all in the mess in the first place. In one word: GREED! But the guilty parties get stimulus packages from our government, while homeowners' financial problems are being ignored!

In the 2010 legislative session (or even earlier!) we will be asking our Florida legislators to enact the following changes to the laws that govern properties in mandatory deed-restricted communities:

• Hold Banks And Mortgage Holders Liable For Unpaid Association Fees
• Stop Abusive Liens & Foreclosures In Associations
• Hold Renters Liable For Unpaid Association Fees
• Create One Government Agency With Strict Enforcement Power For ALL Associations
• Create Ombudsman Office For Homeowners’ Associations
• Give Ombudsman Office More Power To Enforce Demands
• Enforce Fair Elections In Associations
• Protect Owners Against The Consequences Of Bankrupt Developers
• Reduce Costly Litigation -- Create Easy Arbitration Provision
• Stop Frivolous Litigation
• Strengthen Disclosure Provisions In FS 190 – Community Development Districts
• Protect The Vested Rights of Florida’s Mandated Property Owners 

We have complete bill proposals for legislation for all the above issues.  

And not to forget two important issues that bankrupt Florida's homeowners and condo-owners:

• Property Insurance Reform
• Property Tax Reform

All over Florida, citizens are suffering from abuses because of LACK OF ENFORCEMENT of existing laws. The Florida Statutes specify certain rules, but enforcement is totally lacking!   

FLORIDA IS THE SCAM CAPITAL OF THE WORLD!

By creating the Office of the Condominium Ombudsman in 2004, a very successful step had been taken in the right direction.  Finally, condo-owners have a place to ask for help when confronted with abusive situations within their associations.  Within a short period of time and with limited resources, the Ombudsman Office has made a big impact on helping Florida ’s condo-owners.  But it clearly showed as well that the Office of the Condominium Ombudsman needs the necessary power to enforce its demands to come to the table and to negotiate.  Currently, unwilling boards encouraged by their attorneys just laugh at the Ombudsman, being told that the Ombudsman has “no power” whatsoever. 

This has to change!  We already have a toothless tiger – the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.  Not because of lack of power, but because the DBPR executives refuse to enforce the statutes and refuse to go after the violators.  In fact, the DBPR actually protects the violators!

CCFJ, Inc. -- a Consumer Alliance -- has gained immense support during the last few years.  We increased our direct membership to more than 450 paying members – meaning citizens who actually decided to join our cause and pay their annual fees out of their own pockets. Our e-mail alert list has now more than 5000 subscribed members.

Our Alliance Members have more than 7000 paying members, not considering LULAC (League Of United Latin American Citizens), who strongly support our cause! 

We are the largest state-wide property owners' advocacy organization in Florida that is not run by a law firm but by homeowners. Why do so many owners/board members think that these law-firm organizations are willing to lobby for owner-friendly bills? Why do these board members financially support the lobbyists of these groups with owners' money? Owners have to understand: Those folks want your money -- not a happy, well-run community!

We are looking forward to working with you on association reforms that will improve the lives of millions of citizens living in mandated properties in Florida.

Fairness In Associations Is The Goal

Please help us achieve our goals! Your support is important for many Florida citizens.

Please contact me by phone at (386) 740-1503 or by e-mail at [email protected]

I will gladly answer all of your questions and furnish whatever information may be helpful to you in understanding our issues.  

Warm Regards,

Jan Bergemann, President
Cyber Citizens For Justice, Inc.

IN ALLIANCE WITH:

Fair Housing Center of the Greater Palm Beaches (FHCGPB)
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)

Property Owners Association in the Villages (POA)